Prof. Maltese from the University of Palermo will hold a seminar which explores the contribution of Earth Observation techniques to the study of dynamic processes shaping terrestrial and coastal environments, highlighting the integration of multispectral optical and radar data. The first part introduces the principles of spectroradiometry, the physical foundation of remote sensing, with particular emphasis on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and natural surfaces. Through examples of in situ measurements and the spectral signatures of water, soil, and vegetation, the seminar provides the interpretative basis for the analysis of satellite data. The seminar then focuses on the marine–coastal domain, where shoreline evolution processes are analyzed using time series of satellite imagery, demonstrating how spatial and temporal patterns of erosion and accretion can be quantified over multi-decadal timescales. In this context, advanced applications are presented, including satellitederived bathymetry, which enables the reconstruction of shallow-water seafloor morphology, and the classification of submerged vegetation, which supports coastal habitat monitoring through multivariate approaches. Finally, within the terrestrial domain, the seminar addresses gravitational processes, with particular attention to landslide dating through the integrated analysis of time series of vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI) and radar backscattering (SAR) signals. It is shown how anomalies in temporal trends can be used to detect and constrain disturbance events, providing quantitative support for geomorphological monitoring. Overall, the seminar highlights how an integrated approach, grounded in physical principles and based on the combined use of optical and radar data, enables the observation and interpretation of the evolution of Earth surface processes.
The seminar will be held at Santa Marta in room 173 from 9:30am to 1:30pm.