EAS 2400 - Observing the Earth: Remote Sensing and GIS

(crosslisted) ENGRD 2400

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

R. Lohman.

While the environmental challenges and hazards facing society over the next decades are diverse and complex, the next generation of scientists and engineers can look forward to a steadily increasing family of space-based observations that will help us better understand the ongoing changes. This data can enable researchers to highlight potential problems and gain the attention of decision-makers, and to evaluate the efficacy of attempts at mitigation so that we can redirect our efforts into the most useful avenues. Examples of engineering solutions that require evaluation of their outcomes include management and maintenance of coastal infrastructure, flood control or dam-building, and efforts to change land cover/land use. In this course, we will study the key questions facing our planet today, and explore the use of relevant data from current and future satellite missions. We will introduce students to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and other methods for viewing and manipulating data. We will build from analysis of individual images, including multispectral imagery, and extend to time-series analysis of both optical and microwave data. Students will design and present a capstone project involving satellite data analysis and interpretation.

Outcome 1: Describe how different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum are reflected, absorbed and emitted from the Earth’s surface, atmosphere and oceans.

Outcome 2: Calculate key characteristics of the Earth system (e.g., land use, earthquakes, surface temperature, ocean salinity) using data from airplanes or orbiting satellites.

Outcome 3: Analyze large, satellite-based datasets using publicly available, cloud-based GIS tools.

Outcome 4: Assess how engineering choices made during spacecraft design impact the utility of the resulting data (errors, resolution, etc.) for various problems.

Outcome 5: Discuss the history of remote sensing observations and its impact on society.