This course is designed to provide fundamental knowledge and theories of microwave remote sensing. The fundamentals of electromagnetics, both real aperture and synthetic aperture radar systems will be introduced including physical principles.

The Students upon successful completion would be able to:

1. Identify the fundamental of interactive of electromagnetic radiation with matter

2. Compare difference type of microwave remote sensing (real aperture and synthetic aperture 

radar system) and apply the principle of remote sensing measuring the essence of phenomena

3. Apply principle of digital image processing for enhancing and analysis the microwave 

remote sensing

4. Conduct scientific microwave remote sensing research

None

I. Introduction & Preparation

1. Introduction

2. Vector Analysis

3. Electromagnetics

II. Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter

1. Maxwell’s equations

2. Dielectric constant

3. Radar equation and Back scattering

4. Polarization

III. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

1. SAR image and geometry

2. Range/Azimuth resolutions

3. Comparison with optical image

IV. Some applications

1. Flood mapping

2. Soil moisture mapping

Lecture notes, tutorial and other ancillary learning resources will be provided.

No designated textbook, but class notes and handouts will be provided

Alessandro Ferretti

Satellite InSAR data: reservoir monitoring from space. EAGE Publications bv, 2014. 

C. Elachi, J. van Zyl:

Introduction to the Physics and Techniques of Remote Sensing (2nd Ed.), Hoboken, WileyþInterscience, 2006.

J.C.Curlander, R.N.McDonough:

Synthetic Aperture Rader: Systems and Signal Processing, Wiley Series in Remote Sensing 

and Image Processing, 1991.

• IEEE Transaction on Geoscience and Remote Sensing

• International Journal of Remote Sensing

• Journal of Geophysical Research

Lecture: 15 Hrs.

Laboratory: none

Other self-studies = 50 Hrs.

Lectures and class discussion: Students will receive the lecture notes and lecture schedule at the beginning of the course, and requested them to read the lecture notes before coming to the class.

LO Assessment method % marks

All Individual mini-project 100

In the examination, an 

The final grade will be based on the following weight distribution:

mid semester exam (40),

final exam (40%),

assignments (20%).

An “A” would be awarded if a student can elaborate the knowledge learned in class by giving his/her own analysis on real case examples given in this course and from journal articles and including assigned readings. A “B” would be awarded if a student shows an overall understanding of all given topics, a “C” would be given if a student meets below average expectation on both knowledge acquired and analysis. A “D” would be given if a student does not meet basis expectations in understanding and analyzing the topics and issues presented in the course.