Remote Sensing Digital Image Analysis provides the non-specialist with an introduction to quantitative evaluation of satellite and aircraft derived remotely retrieved data. Since the first edition of the book there have been significant developments in the algorithms used for the processing and analysis of remote sensing imagery; nevertheless many of the fundamentals have substantially remained the same. This new edition presents material that has retained value since those early days, along with new techniques that can be incorporated into an operational framework for the analysis of remote sensing data. The book is designed as a teaching text for the senior undergraduate and postgraduate student, and as a fundamental treatment for those engaged in research using digital image processing in remote sensing. The presentation level is for the mathematical non-specialist. Since the very great number of operational users of remote sensing come from the earth sciences communities, the text is pitched at a level commensurate with their background. Each chapter covers the pros and cons of digital remotely sensed data, without detailed mathematical treatment of computer based algorithms, but in a manner conductive to an understanding of their capabilities and limitations. Problems conclude each chapter.

This book is concerned with remote sensing based on the technology of imaging radar. It assumes no prior knowledge of radar on the part of the reader, commencing with a treatment of the essential concepts of microwave imaging and progressing through to the development of multipolarisation and interferometric radar, modes which underpin contemporary applications of the technology. The use of radar for imaging the earth's surface and its resources is not recent. Aircraft-based microwave systems were operating in the 1960s, ahead of optical systems that image in the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum. Optical remote sensing was given a strong impetus with the launch of the first of the Landsat series of satellites in the mid 1970s. Although the Seasat satellite launched in the same era (1978) carried an imaging radar, it operated only for about 12 months and there were not nearly so many microwave systems as optical platforms in service during the 1980s. As a result, the remote sensing community globally tended to develop strongly around optical imaging until Shuttle missions in the early to mid 1980s and free-flying imaging radar satellites in the early to mid 1990s became available, along with several sophisticated aircraft platforms. Since then, and particularly with the unique capabilities and flexibility of imaging radar, there has been an enormous surge of interest in microwave imaging technology. Unlike optical imaging, understanding the theoretical underpinnings of imaging radar can be challenging, particularly when new to the field.

Many of the practical techniques developed for treating systems described by periodic differential equations have arisen in different fields of application; con sequently some procedures have not always been known to workers in areas that might benefit substantially from them. Furthermore, recent analytical methods are computationally based so that it now seems an opportune time for an applications-oriented book to be made available that, in a sense, bridges the fields in which equations with periodic coefficients arise and which draws together analytical methods that are implemented readily. This book seeks to ftll that role, from a user's and not a theoretician's view. The complexities of periodic systems often demand a computational approach. Matrix treatments therefore are emphasized here although algebraic methods have been included where they are useful in their own right or where they establish properties that can be exploited by the matrix approach. The matrix development given calls upon the nomenclature and treatment of H. D'Angelo, Linear Time Varying Systems: Analysis and Synthesis (Boston: Allyn and Bacon 1970) which deals with time-varying systems in general. It is recommended for its modernity and comprehensive approach to systems analysis by matrix methods. Since the present work is applications-oriented no attempt has been made to be complete theoretically by way of presenting all proofs, existence theorems and so on. These can be found in D'Angelo and classic and well-developed treatises such as McLachlan, N. W.: Theory and application of Mathieu functions."

This work treats the essential elements of radio wave propagation without requiring recourse to advanced electromagnetic concepts and equations; however it provides sufficient detail to allow those concerned with wireless systems to acquire quickly a practical working knowledge of the important concepts.

The treatment commences with an analysis of how energy (and power) is conveyed in free space, taking essentially a radiative transfer approach and thus avoiding the need to understand electric and magnetic field propagation at the outset. It then examines in some detail how the proximity of the earth and the atmosphere cause the radiation travelling from a transmitter to a receiver to follow one or more of three mechanisms a" the surface, sky and space waves. Most attention is given to the space wave since it is the mechanism most commonly encountered in contemporary applications.

Radio wave propagation is placed in a practical context by considering the design aspects of communications systems at microwave frequencies. That requires an understanding of noise and its importance in systems design.

The author takes the unusual step of including a fuller consideration of the electromagnetic properties of materials late in the book rather than as an introductory chapter as found in more theoretical treatments. It is placed here so that the contexts in which the knowledge of material properties is important have already been established.

The material is based on a single semester overview course suitable for later year undergraduate students in engineering or science.

Remote Sensing Digital Image Analysis provides a comprehensive treatment of the methods used for the processing and interpretation of remotely sensed image data. Over the past decade there have been continuing and significant developments in the algorithms used for the analysis of remote sensing imagery, even though many of the fundamentals have substantially remained the same. As with its predecessors this new edition again presents material that has retained value but also includes newer techniques, covered from the perspective of operational remote sensing. The book is designed as a teaching text for the senior undergraduate and postgraduate student, and as a fundamental treatment for those engaged in research using digital image analysis in remote sensing. The presentation level is for the mathematical non-specialist. Since the very great number of operational users of remote sensing come from the earth sciences communities, the text is pitched at a level commensurate with their background. The chapters progress logically through means for the acquisition of remote sensing images, techniques by which they can be corrected, and methods for their interpretation. The prime focus is on applications of the methods, so that worked examples are included and a set of problems conclude each chapter.

Remote Sensing Digital Image Analysis provides a comprehensive treatment of the methods used for the processing and interpretation of remotely sensed image data. Over the past decade there have been continuing and significant developments in the algorithms used for the analysis of remote sensing imagery, even though many of the fundamentals have substantially remained the same. As with its predecessors this new edition again presents material that has retained value but also includes newer techniques, covered from the perspective of operational remote sensing. The book is designed as a teaching text for the senior undergraduate and postgraduate student, and as a fundamental treatment for those engaged in research using digital image analysis in remote sensing. The presentation level is for the mathematical non-specialist. Since the very great number of operational users of remote sensing come from the earth sciences communities, the text is pitched at a level commensurate with their background. The chapters progress logically through means for the acquisition of remote sensing images, techniques by which they can be corrected, and methods for their interpretation. The prime focus is on applications of the methods, so that worked examples are included and a set of problems conclude each chapter.

This book treats the technology of radar imaging for remote sensing applications in a manner suited to the mathematical background of most earth scientists. It assumes no prior knowledge of radar on the part of the reader; instead it commences with a development of the essential concepts of radar before progressing through to a detailed coverage of contemporary ideas such as polarimetry and interferometry.

Because the technology of radar imaging is potentially complex the first chapter provides a framework against which the rest of the book is set. Together, the first four chapters present the technical foundations for remote sensing with imaging radar. Scattering concepts are then covered so that the reader develops the knowledge necessary for interpreting radar data, itself the topic of a later chapter which draws together the current thinking in the analysis of radar imagery.

The treatment is based on the assumption that the radars of interest are, in general, multi-polarised. Polarisation synthesis and polarised interferometric SAR are among the topics covered, as are tomography and the various forms of interferometry. A full chapter is given to bistatic radar, which is now emerging as an imaging technology with enormous potential and flexibility in remote sensing. The book concludes with a summary of passive microwave imaging.

A set of appendices is included that provide supplementary material, among which is an overview of the rather complicated process of image formation with synthetic aperture radar, and summaries of some of the mathematical procedures important for a full appreciation of radar as a remote sensing technology.