Vegetation and Remote Sensing

Sensors Sensor records Radiation

As remote sensing platforms
(satellites and airplanes) travel, they
record reflected Electro Magnetic
Radiation (EMR) from the Earth’s
surface.

The width of the recorded area is

called swath width.

The swath width varies according to

the type of satellite or airplane
Botanisk Institutt sensor.
Universitetet I Bergen 1b
Botanisk Institutt Univ. I Bergen

Instantaneous Field of View

As the sensor moves forward, it Digital
The dataNumber
stream is subdivided into regions of
captures a series of snapshots equal size and shape, called pixels.
High DN values are portrayed as light pixels and low DN values are
of the surface. portrayed as darker pixels.

(some authors use IFOV as a synonym to pixel)

The range of the numbers recorded depends on the type of sensor used.
Sensors record Electromagnetic Radiation
The Instantaneous Field of For example, many images are recorded as 8-bit data of 28.
(EMR) and transform it into a digital number
View (IFOV) is the surface of 28 =256, therefore the range of DN values for 8-bit data is 0-255 (zero is
(DN). This DN value represents the amount of
counted as a number).
the earth that is recorded at any EMR reflection received by the sensor.
Some old Landsat MSS images have 6 bit
given time. data that are streched to 8 bit

The size of IFOV is determined

by the altitude of the sensor.
The higher the sensor from the
surface, the larger the IFOV.

Spatial Resolution

Bands or Layers

If this size
scene wereaccording
imaged by
Pixel
two
varies
different sensors with
to Every
Everyimage
band isis
the type of sensor recording
different
the data.spatial resolution, composed of bands or
then the sensor with the viewable as a
coarser resolution would layers.
Pixel size
display fewer
determine
is used to
distinguishable
resolution quality.
separate image.
features.
Spatial resolution is a
Each band is a set of
High
measureresolution
provides
of the imagery
forcan
smallest
better
Each band
data file provides
values for a
object that be resolved
distinguishing
by the sensor, of orfeatures, but
the size of greater insightofas
specific portion theto
alsoarea
requires greater data
the
storage
on the
capacity
ground
for the same
electromagnetic
the composition of
represented by each pixel.
amount of area. spectrum
the imaged of reflected
area
light or emitted heat.

1
 Sensors determine what you
I
R

see

Spectral Resolution Remotely Sensed Images

There are two types of
remotely sensed images:
Each band records a specific
•Panchromatic
portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
•Multispectral
Spectral resolution refers to the
Panchromatic imagery is
specific wavelength intervals in
single-band or
the electromagnetic spectrum
monochrome imagery.
that a sensor can record.
Multispectral imagery is
Narrower bands have higher
imagery with data
spectral resolution
recorded in two or more
bands.

Passive and Active sensor

Examples oftypes
There are two Passive
of sensors:
Sensors:
•Passive
•Landsat MSS & TM
•Active
C o lo r P hoto B lue F ilter Passive sensors record EMR that
•SPOT
originates from the sun and is
reflected off of the objects it
encounters.
•IKONOS
Examples of Active Sensors:
Active sensors provide their own
energy source and record the
•Radar
reflected response as it interacts
G re en F ilte r R ed Filte r with various objects.
•Sonar

2
 Landsat MSS Passive Sensors
Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper) - 1982

Landsat MSS (Multispectral Spatial Resolution:

Scanner) - 1972

Spatial Resolution: •30m x 30m

56m x 79m Spectral Resolution:

Spectral Resolution: •7 Bands

4 Bands
Temporal Resolution:
Temporal Resolution:
18 days
•16 days
Swath: Swath:
185 km
•185 km

Sensors used on Landsat1-6

MSS & TM
bands

Landsat 4
and 5

LANDSAT Spacecraft
The Landsat 4 and 5 spacecraft were placed into lower orbits than the Landsat 1-3. Beginning in
Landsat 1-3 Landsat 5-6 1983, Landsat 4 experienced spacecraft malfunctions and limited functionality. Shortly after launch,
Landsat 4 lost use of half its solar power. The early launch of Landsat 5 guaranteed continued
coverage.,
Design Life
5 years
(Landsat 5 are still operational (since 1983)and secured recording when Landsat 6 failed)
Landsat 5 however lost two of its primary communications systems and backup systems were
activated.
Payload
Carried Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) and Thematic Mapper (TM) imaging sensors.
Manufacturer(s)
GE Astro Space, Fairchild
Size
4.3 m high, 2.2 wide (with HGA and array deployed)
Orbit
705 km circular, polar, sun-synchronous, repeating every
16 days (9:45 am crossing time)

3
 TM spectral bands Wavelength user-friendlyness
LANDSAT 5 TM

Launch Date March 1, 1984 1 0,45 – 0,52 Blue Penetrate water. Makes it possible to map
Launch Site Vandenberg Air Force Base, California coastal zones. Applicable separating soil and vegetation. Mapping forest
Launch Vehicle Delta 3920 types and cultural land?
Scene Sizes
Mass 4,273 pounds (1,938 kg) Nominal scene size:
Ground Resolution 185 km wide x 170 km long 2 0,52 – 0,60 Green Measure visible green reflection of
30-meter multispectral Metric Accuracy vegetation. separate vegetationon og vigor assessment. Cultural land
(120-meter thermal) 250-meter horizontal accuracy with no ground control
Imagery Spectral Response 15-meter horizontal accuracy with ground control identification.
Multispectral: These are specified as 90% CE (circular error) for 3 0,63 – 0,69 Red Clorphyll absortion .
#1: Blue 0.45 - 0.52 um the horizontal
Orbital Information
4 0,76 – 0,90 Near infrared separate vegetation types, vigor og
#2: Green 0.52 - 0.60 um
#3: Red 0.63 - 0.69 um
Altitude 438 miles (705 kilometers) biomass. Spoil moisture.
Inclination 98.2 degrees
#4: Near IR 0.76 - 0.90 um Speed 4 miles per second (7 kilometers per second)
5 1,55 – 1,75 Mid - infrared Indicate vegetation moisture and
#5: SW IR 1.55 - 1.75 um crossing time 9:45 a.m. soil moisture. Separate snow and clouds.
#6: Thermal 10.4 - 12.4 um Revisit frequency 16 days
#7: SW IR 2.08 - 2.35 um Orbit time 98.9 minutes
6 10,4 – 12,5 Midinfrared Vegetation stress analyse, diffrence
Orbit type circular, polar, sun-synchronous in soil moisture, termal mapping.
Weight 4,800 pounds (2,177 kg)
7 2,08 – 2,35 Terma - infrared Minerals and rocks, sensitiv
to vegetation moisture (Lillesand & Kiefer 1987).

Landsat 7 ETM+ Passive Sensors SPOT Panchromatic - 1986

Launch Date April 15, 1999

30-meter multispectral Spatial Resolution:
Imagery Spectral Response
•10m x 10m
Multispectral:
#1: Blue 0.450 - 0.515 um 30m Spectral Resolution:
#2: Green 0.525 - 0.605 um 30m
#3: Red 0.630 - 0.690 um 30m •1 Band
#4: Near IR 0.750 - 0.900 um 30m Temporal Resolution:
#5: SW IR 1.55 - 1.75 um 30m
#6: Thermal 10.40 - 12.50 um 60m
#7: SW IR 2.09 - 2.35 um 30m •26 days
Pan 0,520 0,900 15m Swath:
Dual mode solar calibration+ internal lamp
(5%) •60 km
Cost user request and new copyright rules

SPOT
Passive Sensors SPOT XS (Multispectral) - 1986

Spatial Resolution:

•20m x 20m
Spectral Resolution:

•3 Bands
Temporal Resolution:

•26 days
Swath:

•60 km

4
 Passive Sensors IKONOS Panchromatic - 1999 Passive Sensors IKONOS Multispectral - 1999

Spatial Resolution: Spatial Resolution:

4m x 4m
•1m x 1m
Spectral Resolution: Spectral Resolution:
4 Bands
•1 Band
Temporal Resolution: Temporal Resolution:
3 days
•3 days
Swath: Swath:
11 km
•11 km

Multispectral Images Temporal Resolution

InWithin multispectral
this diagram, theimages,
greeneach
band
isband is viewable
displayed as ablue
by the separate
color Each satellite has its own unique
image. revisit schedule for obtaining imagery
gun, the red band is displayed of a particular area.
byThree
the green color
bands are gun, and the
viewable
near infrared band
simultaneously. One is displayed
band is The frequency at which the sensor
byassigned
the redtocolor
each gun.
monitor color revisits an area is known as temporal
gun and the result is a color resolution.
image.
This type of image is excellent For example, if a satellite imaged the
forThe
detecting
adjacent vegetation within
diagram displays a same area every ten days, then its
anTrue
area, due
Color to the fact
Composite thatThis
image. temporal resolution would be ten days.
vegetation
means that has a high
the red band is
displayed with
reflectance in the
thered color
near gun,
infrared Temporal resolution is an important
and so on. factor to consider in change detection
(NIR). studies.

Geostationary and meteorological satellites: Vegetation and Remote Sensing

TIROS/NOAA satellite
AVHRR Sensor
Altitude: 833-870 km
Inclination: 98.7° Channel
Waveband
Period: 102 minutes
Equatorial crossing time: 1 red 0.58-0.68
(i) 0730 and 1930 2 NIR 0.725- Scanners
(ii) (ii) 1400 and 0200 1.10
Repeat cycle: 12 hours 3 MIR 3.55-3.93
Spatial resolution: 1.1 km (at nadir) 4 TIR 10.3-11.3 Botanisk Institutt
Radiometric resolution: 10 bits
(1024 levels)
5 TIR 11.5-12.5 Universitetet I Bergen
Swath width: 3000 km
1b
Botanisk Institutt Univ. I Bergen

5
 Scanners
Scanners Multispectral scanning systems

Sensor calibartion Mirrors focus

Radar images
Active Sensors Radar Each radar image is composed of many image elements of varying
brightness.
Radar data are produced when a radar
transmitter emits a beam of micro or This does not represent brightness but illumination angle, hardness
millimeter waves, the waves reflect connectivity, wetness, structure etc.
from the surfaces they strike, and the
backscattered radiation is detected by Different vegetation types reflect differently due to its structure wetness,
the radar’s system’s receiving antenna, ngle of leaves etc.
which is tuned to the frequency of the
transmitted waves. Vegetation from the same area imaged at different point in time appear
different as wind may shift turning the leaf surface into an other angle.
Radar microwaves can penetrate the
atmosphere day or night under virtually Unlike passive remote sensing systems, radar illuminate with radiation of
all weather conditions, providing data known and carefully controlled properties. Therefore, the interpreter
even in the presence of haze, fog and
clouds
should have a foundation for deciphering image because the only
“unknowns” that influence image are the ground conditions i.e. the object
of study.

6
 SLAR= Side Looking Radar The effect of Aperture
Real Aperture systems
The antenna directs this signal toward the ground, and then receives its reflection.
The resolution is controlled by several variables. One objective is to focus the
transmitted signal to illuminate as small an area as possible on the ground, as it is the
size of this area that determines the spatial detail recorded on the image.
If the area illuminated is large, then reflections from diverse features may be averaged
together to form a single graytone value on the image, and their distinctiveness is lost.
If the area is small, individual features are recorded as separate features on the image,
and their identities are preserved.
The size is controlled by several variables. One is antenna length in relation to
wavelength. A long antenna length focus energy on a small ground area. Thus require
long antennas in order to achieve fine detail; Restriction on antenna length forms a
barrier for use of real aperture systerns on spacecraft:

SAR= Syntetic Aperture Radar Seasat Synthetic Aperture

Small Real Aperture Radar antennae provide very Radar
coarse resolution from spacecraft altitudes . Launch: 28 June 1978
. Electrical system failure: 10 October 1978
The alternative design is the synthetic aperture radar
. Orbit: Nearly circular at 108° inclination; 14 orbits each day
(SAR).
. Frequency: L-band (1.275 GHz)
The tern “synthetic aperture” denotes the artificial . Wavelength: 23 cm
length of the antenna, in contrast to the “real” aperture . Look direction: Looks to starboard side of track
based upon the actual physical length of the antenna
. Swath width: 100 km, centered 20° off-nadir
used with real aperture systems.
. Ground resolution: 25 m x 25 m
. Polarization: HH

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

Radar Interferometry
It is possible to derive accurate topographic
information from multiple SAR images of a single
region. In a broad sense, SAR interferometry is
comparable to the use of stereo photogrammetry to
determine topography of a region by observation from
two different perspectives. SAR interferometry exploit
radar’s ranging capability. Because SARs can
accurately measure differences in distances to the
same feature from separate observation points, the
technique can provide very accurate topographic
information.

7
 Shuttle Radar
Topography Mission

Acquired topographic data over 80% of earth’s land

mass (between 60° N and 56° S).
One antenna was mounted in the shuttle’s payload
bay; another antennaFolgefonnen
was mounted on a 60-m (200-ft.)
Shuttle Radar mast extended after the
Hardangerfjord shuttle attained orbit.
glacier
Topography The data are now beeing released.
Mission