Sessions
10:00 - 11:00
Terrain Mapping
11:00 - 12:00
Radar RS & SAR Applications
14:00 - 16:00
GEE-Elevation Modeling
📚 Required Readings
Terrain Analysis in GEE
Slope, aspect, hillshade, and watershed delineation.
📖 RS eBook - Chapter 13📝 Key Concepts for the Exam
Active vs. Passive Sensors
Optical (Passive)
Relies on reflected sunlight. Blocked by clouds. Daytime only. Measures surface reflectance. Platforms: Landsat, Sentinel-2, MODIS.
SAR (Active)
Transmits own microwave pulses. Penetrates clouds, rain, smoke. Day and night. Measures surface roughness and moisture. Platforms: Sentinel-1, ALOS PALSAR.
InSAR and SAR Polarization
- InSAR (Interferometric SAR): Compares the phase difference between two SAR acquisitions to detect millimeter-scale surface deformation (subsidence, volcanic uplift, earthquake damage).
- Co-polarized (HH, VV): Sensitive to surface roughness. Used for soil moisture and water detection.
- Cross-polarized (HV, VH): Sensitive to volume scattering (forest canopy structure). Valuable for biomass estimation.
Elevation Models
- DEM (Digital Elevation Model): Generic term for any elevation raster. Represents bare-earth or surface height.
- DSM (Digital Surface Model): Includes buildings, trees, and other structures above the ground.
- DTM (Digital Terrain Model): Represents the bare earth surface only, with structures removed.
- Hillshade: A visualization technique where the analyst controls azimuth and altitude of a simulated light source. Changing illumination parameters completely alters the terrain narrative (GIS as Art).
Assessment
Final Exam Prep
Terrain and Radar concepts are core components of the module exam.
Assessed