803440 VO+UE Radar and hyperspectral Remote Sensing in Geology (2005S)

ECTS Points: 6.6
The lecture focuses on two important chapters of modern geological Remote Sensing. The all-weather and ground penetration capability of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on the one hand and the sensitivity to electrical and physical properties (surface roughness/morphology, soil moisture) on the other hand makes radar a powerful tool for the identification of tectonic and morphologic features. Techniques of "hyperspectral remote sensing", working with more than 200 bands, thereby allowing for the comparison of the spectral signature of materials ("fingerprint") measured in the laboratory and acquired by satellite scanners, will be presented. Using this methodology rocks/minerals/land-use classes etc. can be identified from the satellite images directly with only limited ground check. Based on a sound theoretical background information different methods of digital image processing like spatial enhancement are applied to highlight morphologic-, lithologic- and tectonic features in radar data and spectral enhancement and classification is applied to hyperspectral data sets.
The students will work together in small groups interpreting satellite data of areas showing different geomorphologic-, geologic- and tectonic setting and different climatic and morphologic conditions. Satellite image interpretation will focus on exploration geology, and natural hazard assessment.