Earth Observation Technologies

Earth observation technologies are key to allow understanding and assessing of natural and man-induced changes in the Earth system (both natural and built environment). These changes occur at scales from local to global, as well as at different temporal scales.  This module is composed of two units: Satellite Observation Techniques and Geo-Informatics. In the unit Satellite Observation Techniques, you will learn how (changes in) the geometry of the Earth’s surface and mass distribution can be determined using different measurement techniques. In the unit Geo-Informatics, you will learn how to process and visualize Earth Observation data in order to extract and present relevant information about the underlying geometry and processes. 

Satellite Observation Techniques (6EC) 

Building further on Physical Principles of Earth Observation and MUDE, this unit goes in depth in the main satellite observation techniques used for determination of the changing shape of the Earth’s surface and its mass distribution: SAR Interferometry, GNSS, satellite altimetry, and satellite gravimetry. For instance, you will learn how a technique or a combination of techniques can be used to monitor surface deformation, the evolution of glaciers or sea level rise. You will be exposed to the relevant technological aspects of these techniques with an emphasis on the factors that affect the quality (error budget and resolution) of the estimated quantities. You will learn how to design and apply a strategy to study a particular geophysical phenomenon of interest using real-world data sets. 

Geo-Informatics (3EC) 

In this unit, the focus is on learning how to extract and use valuable geo-information from massive amounts of geo-data (e.g., from optical and geometric remote sensing) for fields like geography, geodesy, cartography. You will dive into the world of geospatial data, learning how to analyse and visualize various types of geo-data. You will get hands-on experience with powerful geo-information system software, and you will even learn how to program your own workflows. In addition, you will also explore how to scale your work with the power of cloud-computing platforms. Throughout the unit, you will uncover innovative methods for interpreting data, including segmentation, big-data analytics, and machine learning. These techniques will come to life during practical sessions, where you will apply what you have learned to real-world challenges.