Related subject area: Science

Overall problem: Should activities be restricted around the coral reefs in Kailua Bay to insure their lasting protection?

Relationship of problem in this lesson to overall problem: At this point, students have developed a fairly complex understanding of remote sensing elements and processes, a precise definition of remote sensing, and have gained an understanding of the EM spectrum and how remote sensing can help evaluate the state of the coral reefs in Kailua Bay. The problem in this lesson is to construct a plan for using the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) remote sensing instrument to locate coral reefs in Kailua Bay. To do this, they will need to learn about a few additional key concepts related to the use of remote sensing instrumentation, e.g., temporal and spatial resolution and swath.

Estimated time required: 4 class periods.

Student outcomes/objectives:

• Students will be able describe the meaning of swath.
• Students will be able to describe the difference between temporal resolution and spatial resolution.
• Students will be able to distinguish between airborne remote sensing and satellite remote sensing.
• Students will be about to understand how ground truthing helps to validate airborne & satellite remote sensing image.
• Students will be able to make a remote sensing decision based on concepts that need to be considered when they are planning for a coral reefs mission.

Prerequisite skills or knowledge:

• Definitional knowledge of remote sensing including elements and process of remote sensing and the fundamentals of the EM spectrum
• Ability to work in teams
• Basic understanding of problem solving
• Basic reading skills
• Basic presentation skills

Teacher preparation:

• Print Student Journal / Activity sheets for these activities.
• Secure internet computers and projection equipment.

•   Bookmark student websites on student machines (if not available, print and copy student problem scenario web site).

Student reflection and assessment: Student reflection activities  |  Assessment

Education standards supported by this lesson:   

National Science Education Standards | Project 2061 Benchmarks

National Standards for School Mathematics | National Technology Standards | National Geography Standards

Cross-curricular connections to National Education Standards for this lesson:

math | technology | geography

FRAME the lesson by explaining to the students that they will be developing a remote sensing mission plan. To do this they will need to consider the purpose of the mission and the data they will need to collect. 

Stimulate students' interest and get them to begin to think about considerations for planning a remote sensing mission by projecting either remote sensing image of the Oahu #1 or  #2

Ask the students to describe what they see in the picture, why they think it is an island,  and how they think the images were produced, i.e., review the working definition of remote sensing.

Direct the students to especially look at the light blue area surrounding the island.  What do they think it represents?

Teacher note: You may want to either project these images to the class, bookmark them for students to look at during this brief discussion, or print color copies of the pictures. Image #1 is quite large and requires scrolling. 

Prompt students to look at the map of Oahu  and compare it with the remote sensing image and ask:

• Where is Kailua Bay located on the island of Oahu?

Sample student responses:

• It is an island because of its features, size, etc.  It is surrounded by water.
• We might get this picture from aircraft, kites, balloons, satellites, etc.
• Remote sensing is a process of obtaining information without coming into direct contact with the object being observed.
•  It looks like a picture of an island. In #1 I can see land, areas of green, areas of brown, water. In #2 I can see much more detail.  I can see mountains, valleys, the waves crashing against the shore, agricultural areas (brown).

·        The light blue area represents shallower water, where coral reefs may reside.

• Kailua Bay is toward the east side of the island.