4 Resolutions of Remote Sensing Images

Chi-Farn Chen
Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research National Central University
Tel: 03-4227151-57624 Fax: 03-4254908 e-mail: cfchen@csrsr.ncu.edu.tw

CI4052

What is Remote Sensing?

Remote sensing is the science (and to some extent, art) of acquiring information about the Earth's surface without actually being in contact with it. This is done by sensing and recording reflected or emitted energy and processing, analyzing, and applying that information.

Resolution
Spectral:
portion of the spectrum imaged

Spatial:
smallest ground feature imaging system can detect (pixel resolution)

Radiometric:
how many bits sensor uses to represent pixel values

Temporal:
how often an area is imaged (change detection)

Spectral Resolution
Spectral Resolution
Number and dimension of specific wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum which the sensor collects High spectral resolution - hyperspectral - many small-width bands Low spectral resolution - panchromatic - one large (wide) band

Spatial Resolution
Spatial Resolution
20 m 2m

The ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects in an image. Minimum distance between two objects that can be resolved by the sensor.

Radiometric Resolution
Radiometric Resolution
Sensitivity of sensor to differences in signal strength (detection of differences in brightness of objects and features)
8 bit = 28 (0 255 values) 10 bit = 210 (0 1023 values) 11 bit = 211 (0 2047 values) 16 bit = 216 (0 65,535 values) 1 byte = 8 bits

4 bit

8 bit

Temporal Resolution
Temporal Resolution How often is your target imaged? Change detection May provide a larger advantage over a single high resolution spatial or spectral image