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Lesson 1 Introduction

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6 views12 pages

Lesson 1 Introduction

Uni

Uploaded by

brianthiru04
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EECI 3132: GEOSPATIAL

TECHNOLOGIES
Name: Nelly C. Mulwa
Course Content
• Introduction to photogrammetry: Aerial photography; aerial cameras, scale of photography, stereoscopy,

heights from photographs, parallax bar, flight planning, photo interpretation, application in civil engineering.

• Introduction to Remote Sensing: Remote sensing process, sensors and platforms, electromagnetic spectrum

and applications in civil Engineering

• Introduction to GIS: Components of GIS, geographic data, data models and formats, types of GIS analysis

and examples; application of GIS in civil engineering practice

• Surface representation from point data: Interpolation methods (exact and inexact interpolators), global

interpolation methods; trend surface analysis, local deterministic methods for interpolation; nearest neighbour,

linear interpolation, bilinear interpolation and cubic convolution.


• Surface models: contours, grids, TIN
• Basics of geostatistics, geographic weighting methods
Introduction
• What are geospatial technologies?
“Technologies related to the collection or processing of data that is associated with
location”.
• Geospatial technologies is a term used to describe the range of modern tools
contributing to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human
societies.

• Geospatial technologies deal with acquisition,


processing, rendering, dissemination and
management of spatial information on or near the
surface of the earth.
Spatial information
• What is spatial information?
“the word spatial means the location of the
information is known in 3D (i.e x,y,z)”.
• The information is geographically referenced in a 3-
Dimensional coordinate system.
• Geospatial technologies locate features , objects
and phenomena on the surface of the earth,
combine these data with their attributes and
arrange them in a form that is convenient and
functional for utilization by interested parties.
Spatial position
• Fundamental elements needed;
1. Direction
2. Distance
These elements can be obtained by;
1. Direct measurement e.g. using theodolite, tape
and a level.
2. Indirect measurement using images, total
stations and GPS/GNSS.
Brief History of Geospatial
Technologies
• GEOSPATIAL technologies have been evolving in some form;
• Prehistoric times- first maps, cartography and map making .
• 19th century-cartography and mapmaking were joined by
aerial photography as early cameras were sent aloft on
balloons and pigeons.
• 20th Century- aerial photography using airplanes.
• Second World War (1939-1945) -the science and art of
photographic interpretation and map making was
accelerated.
• During the Cold War (1947-1991) it took on new dimensions
with the advent of satellites and computers.
Cont’
• Satellites allowed images of the Earth’s surface and human
activities therein.
• Computers allowed storage and transfer of imagery
together with the development of associated digital
software, maps, and data sets on socioeconomic and
environmental phenomena, collectively called geographic
information systems (GIS).
• In the last decade, these technologies have evolved into a
network of national security, scientific, and commercially
operated satellites complemented by powerful desktop GIS.
• In addition, aerial remote sensing platforms, including
unmanned aerial vehicles i.e drones, are seeing increased
non-military use as well.
Cont’
• High quality hardware and data is now available to new audiences such as
universities, corporations, and non-governmental organizations.
• The fields and sectors deploying these technologies are currently growing at a
rapid pace, informing decision makers on topics such as industrial engineering,
biodiversity conservation, forest fire suppression, agricultural monitoring,
humanitarian relief, and much more.
Common Examples of Geospatial
Technologies
1. Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
• A satellite-based geolocation system that functions
worldwide and is accessible to the public via GPS units.
• The global positioning system is a satellite-based
navigation system consisting of a network of 24 orbiting
satellites that are at an altitude of approximately
20200km in space and in six different orbital paths.
• The satellites are constantly moving, making two
complete orbits around the Earth in just under 24
hours. The first GPS satellite was launched way back in
February, 1978.
Common Examples of Geospatial
Technologies
2. Remote Sensing:
• The acquisition of images and information from afar.
• Images = likeness; a representation of reality.
• Reality = earth surface
• Imaging devices are often referred to as sensors.
• Remotely sensed images can provide three distinct kinds of data:
• Geometric data (direction and distance), which indicate the spatial
relationship between image and object points and are used to reconstruct
spatial positions;
• Radiometric data (grey level), which indicate the intensity of the
electromagnetic radiation which was reflected or emitted from objects, and
received by a sensor. These data are used to identify objects and their
qualitative characteristics;
• Spectral data (color), which indicate the dominant wavelength of the
radiation emanating from objects, and are also used for qualitative analysis.
Cont’
• Remotely sensed images can be analogue(hard copy) or
digital (soft copy).
• Images are utilized in two distinct manner by performing
either:
1. Interpretative or
2. Metric analysis
• In interpretative analysis, Qualitative observations are made to
detect the presence of certain phenomenon, identify and classify
objects and to ascertain their physical condition, state and
properties.
• In metric analysis, quantitative measurements are made in
the image and then geometric information, such as spatial
position, distance, area, shape, size, volume, distribution of
objects are derived.
Common Examples of Geospatial
Technologies
3. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage,
and present spatial or geographic data.
• GIS can be used as a system to store the images obtained through
remote sensing.
• GIS can also be used as a platform to do RS image processing and
Photogrammetric analysis!
4. Internet Mapping Technologies.
• These are software programs like Google Earth and web features like
Microsoft Virtual Earth.
• They are important for data sharing. The developments in user
interface are also making such technologies available to a wider
audience.

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