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This online course will introduce the contributions of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing to the monitoring of Earth’s ecosystems. Learn how the weather-independence of SAR combined with its ability to penetrate into vegetation canopies make SAR an excellent information source to characterize vegetation structure, measure above-ground biomass, and analyze the change of vegetation long term and throughout the seasons.
Remote sensing observations have become an essential tool in observing the state and evolution of the earth’s ecosystems. They are a unique means within earth sciences to gain an immediate and regional- to continental-scale view of the earth environment, allowing for the monitoring and change detection of entire biomes over time.
This course will introduce you to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a remote sensing technology that can see the earth surface even during darkness and through rain, clouds, or smoke. As a participant in this course, you will learn how the weather-independence of SAR combined with its ability to penetrate into vegetation canopies make SAR an excellent information source to characterize vegetation structure, measure above-ground biomass, and analyze the change of vegetation long term and throughout the seasons. Each SAR ecosystem application will be illustrated with relevant data sets and hands-on exercises. Specific topics include:
This course is produced by the Alaska Satellite Facility at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which has been selected as the NASA data hub for the upcoming NISAR mission.
General proficiency in GIS
For verified track: Basic knowledge in Python programming
ARSET Level-0 Training “Fundamentals of Remote Sensing” or equivalent
ARSET Level-1 Training “Introduction to Synthetic Aperture Radar” or equivalent
Participants in this course will develop the following skills:
Week 1: Contribution of SAR to Monitoring forests
This first section will provide an overview of the capabilities of SAR. We will discuss how using the SAR backscatter power can create images of the surface at all weather conditions and during night and day. We will discuss how different SAR signals can penetrate through vegetation to reveal what's beneath.
We will also discuss how we can use the polarimetric capabilities of SAR to analyze vegetation covers, agriculture, and above-ground biomass.
Week 2: SAR for Agriculture Monitoring
Week 3: Forest Degradation / Deforestation using SAR remote sensing
Week 4: Biomass estimation using SAR
It was a great course! I recommend it for both beginners and familiarized professionals with radar remote sensing.
Gilberto Daniel Hermosillo Camacho, Specialist in Geotechnologies, Mexico
Great hands-on activities and explanations! A great refresher course for those familiar with SAR, and helps with knowledge enhancement! Yet, it's an approachable course even for beginners in SAR too.
Sidharth Subramaniam, GIS Associate, Kawa Space, India
Glad to complete this SAR course offered via edX. It helps me to better interface with our satellite team when monitoring construction induced ground/building deformation, as well as broaden my horizons about SAR applications outside my expertise.
Zhangwei Ning, PhD, Technical Manager at SIXENSE Inc
Who can take this course?
Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.
Who can take this course?
Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.
