2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate major in Civil Engineering
Remote Sensing for Hydrometeorology
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Civil Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Nobuyuki Utsumi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue / 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CVE.B402
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of remote sensing of the atmosphere, clouds, and precipitation related to the Earth's water cycle. Students will learn the basics of electromagnetic waves used in remote sensing, with a focus on microwaves. The course will also cover the principles and characteristics of various hydrometeorological remote sensing techniques, including those using ground-based radar and satellite-mounted sensors.
Furthermore, by applying the fundamental knowledge explained in the lectures, students will gain hands-on experience analyzing real remote sensing data, deepening their understanding of the subject.
Note: Starting from the 2026 academic year, the course will be conducted in English annually.
Course description and aims
(1) Students will be able to describe the fundamental principles and characteristics of remote sensing related to hydrometeorology.
(2) Students will be capable of performing basic analysis of remote sensing data.
Keywords
Precipitation, Hydrologic cycle, Hydrometeorology, Satellites, Remote Sensing
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In addition to lectures, quizzes and small assignments will be given as needed. There may also be instances where simple analyses of remote sensing data are conducted using computers during class. Therefore, students are required to bring a laptop with internet access.
Apart from the quizzes and small assignments, students will be required to complete a final assignment, which they will present during the 14th lecture.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation, Fundamentals of Hydrometeorological Phenomena | An overview of the course format objectives. Introduction to the hydrometeorological phenomena covered in the course. |
| Class 2 | Fundamentals of Electromagnetic Waves | Fundamental principles of electromagnetic waves and radiation will be explained. |
| Class 3 | Thermal emission 1 | Introduction to the fundamental principles of thermal emission. |
| Class 4 | Thermal emission 2 | Introduction to the fundamental principles of thermal emission. |
| Class 5 | Atmospheric Transmission | The atmospheric transmission of electromagnetic waves will be explained. |
| Class 6 | Reflection and Refraction | The reflection and refraction of electromagnetic waves will be explained. |
| Class 7 | Particle Scattering and Absorption | The scattering and absorption of electromagnetic waves by particles will be explained. |
| Class 8 | Atmospheric Radiative Transfer 1 | The atmospheric radiative transfer processes and equations will be explained. |
| Class 9 | Atmospheric Radiative Transfer 2 | The atmospheric radiative transfer processes and equations will be explained. |
| Class 10 | Microwave and Precipitation | The relationship between precipitation and microwaves will be explained. |
| Class 11 | Satellite Remote Sensing with Visible and Infrared Sensors | Introduction to the fundamental principles of cloud and precipitation remote sensing by satellite-based visible and infrared sensors. |
| Class 12 | Precipitation Radar | Fundamental principles of the precipitation radar will be explained. |
| Class 13 | Analysis of Remote Sensing Data (Part 1) | Conducting remote sensing data analysis in preparation for the final project presentation. |
| Class 14 | Analysis of Remote Sensing Data (Part 2) | Final project presentation. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Lecture materials will be uploaded to the T2SCHOLA. Following book will be also referred.
Petty, G. W., 2006: A First Course in Atmospheric Radiation. 2nd Edition. Sundog Publishing.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Quizzes / Assignments (50%)
Project report (50%)
Related courses
- CVE.B401 ： Water Resource Systems
- GEG.E411 ： Atmospheric Environment in Megacities
- TSE.A315 ： Introduction to Meteorology
- CVE.B311 ： River Engineering
- TSE.A314 ： Introduction to Water and Mass Transport in the Environment
- GEG.E412 ： Hydrology and Water Resources Conservation
Prerequisites
Students are required to bring a laptop with internet access.