6.5. Assignment 1: Major Remote Sensing Systems

Part 1

The following activity will require the collation of data found in these learning objects and by using the suggested resources relating to major satellite systems (note: if you are struggling to track down information on the various sensors, a hint is available by pressing the ‘Show Hint’ button below).

A) Plot a graph between (i) spatial resolution vs swath of the following sensors:

• AVHRR
• SPOT4-Multispectral
• Landsat-MSS
• CARTOSAT-2

B) Plot a graph between spatial vs temporal resolution of the following sensors.

• SPOT-vegetation
• JERS-1 Optical sensor
• Landsat TM

What are you able to infer from the above two graphs? Use literature as appropriate to back up your answer (Max word count, 200).

[15% of overall mark for this assignment]

Show Hint

Part 2

An earthquake has struck a large city in a developing country, which has a relatively modern city centre, but large areas of high density, informal suburban housing on its outskirts.  Several outlying towns were also affected. In planning the city’s reconstruction following the earthquake, the Ministry of Rural and Urban Planning, together with an internal aid agency, is funding a project to map the extent of building damage.  There was virtually no reliable digital geospatial data documenting the city’s urban form before the earthquake, although following the disaster, building damage has been mapped on the ground by recovery teams equipped with differential Global Positioning System (GPS) units in some areas.  However, access on the ground remains difficult in many areas, making a complete ground-based survey impossible.  Both government and the international agency wish to use remotely sensed data to resolve this problem.

In a report (maximum 1,800 words), drawing on relevant literature, assess the strengths and limitations of data from different remote sensing systems for use in this scenario.  Based on this assessment, provide a recommendation on the source/s of remotely sensed imagery you would consider using for this exercise. Upload your completed report into the eAssignment portal.

[85% of overall mark for this assignment]