This book was written for students

and engineers wishing to understand

the basic principles behind

the acquisition of optical imagery for

Earth observation and the ways in which

the quality of the images can be optimised.

Intended both for designers and

downstream users, the book begins

with a detailed explanation of the physical

principles involved when a satellite

acquires an optical image and then

goes on to discuss image processing and

its limits as well as the ultimate performance

obtained.

It also covers in depth the problems to

be solved when designing and dimensioning

observation systems so that the

reader can become familiar with the various

processes implemented for acquiring

an optical image.

The book describes a very wide range of

subjects from fundamental physics (radiation,

electronics, optics) to applied

mathematics (frequency analysis), geometry

and technological issues.

It draws on work done over many years

by engineers from CNES (the French

Space Agency), the IGN (the French National

Geographic Institute) and ONERA

(the French Aerospace Laboratory) in

the field of satellite optical imagery.