2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Introduction to Remote sensing
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Yasuko Kasai / Richard Erik Larsson
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- TSE.A344
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- May 22, 2026
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The goal of this course is to learn how remote sensing technology is used to collect high quality data and generate new insights. This entails the principles of the physics of observation, the collection of data, and state-of-the-art processing techniques. The lectures introduce fundamental concepts related to interactions of electromagnetic waves and matter, and the recording of information at a satellite or sensor. You will learn how insights about the state of the Earth and other planets are derived by analysis from such recorded data. In a world connected by data, （Data Driven Society) remote sensing skills are critical to our society.
Course description and aims
By studying satellite remote sensing comprehensively—from fundamentals to applications—we aim to gain a deeper understanding of the essence that lies beyond the data-driven society
Keywords
Interaction between electromagnetic waves and matter, Remote sensing, Earth, Planet, Moon, Jupiter, Satellite, Super resolution, machine learning
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lecture
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Basics of remote sensing I: Introduction to radiative transfer modeling |
None |
| Class 2 | Basics of remote sensing II: Observation systems and retrieval methods |
None |
| Class 3 | Satellite Remote Sensing Observations I: Principles of Satellite Remote Sensing (Applying the theories learned above to understand real-world cases) |
None |
| Class 4 | Satellite Remote Sensing Observations II: Sensor and Satellites |
None |
| Class 5 | Satellite Remote Sensing Observations III: Global observations |
None |
| Class 6 | Super resolution I: Core methods and principles |
None |
| Class 7 | Super resolution II: Application to remote sensing |
None |
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)
No text book
Reference books, course materials, etc.
1. Series on Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics: Volume 2, Inverse Methods for Atmospheric Sounding Theory and Practice
https://doi.org/10.1142/3171, Clive D Rodgers (Oxford)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Reports or Exam
Related courses
- TSE.A305 ： Electromagnetics (TSE)
- MAT.P201 ： Quantum Chemistry A
- CHM.C332 ： Quantum Chemistry
- EPS.A351 ： Advanced Lecture on Earth and Planetary Sciences A
- TSE.A325 ： Data Science for Transdisciplinary Research (I)
- TSE.A315 ： Introduction to Meteorology
- MAT.P202 ： Quantum Chemistry B
- EPS.A338 ： Earth System Science
- TSE.A326 ： Data Science for Transdisciplinary Research (Ⅱ)
Prerequisites
Preferably studying electromagnetism, basic linear algebra