Aim
Spectroscopy and hyperspectral remote sensing enables to retrieve very detailed spectral information about a certain surface in dense bandwith intervalls. Information on the “spectral fingerprints” of surfaces is then available in a near-continuous manner. This allows for the differentiation of materials, such different geologic surfaces, different urban materials, or plants of different composition and vigor. Especially field- and laboratory spectroscopy has shown many benefits, as measurements can be carried out in a controlled environment, and can be directly visualized and explained. This course provides you insights into practical experiments using a field spectrometer, and subsequent data analysis to assess key environmental parameters such as plant health, soil moisture content, and geologic composition.
Content
The content of this course includes both the theoretical background of field and imaging spectroscopy, as well as practical experiments and subsequent data analysis. In particular, we will adress: the theoretical background of field and imaging spectroscopy / general reflectance and transmittance properties of plant leaves, canopies and soils / the quantification of biophysical and biochemical properties using spectroscopic measurements, feature parametrization and regression analysis / the advantages and challenges of existing and planned hyperspectral spaceborne sensors
Coding
Software
Techniques
Content
General Course News and Updates
Learning Geospatial Tools in Practice: whitebox
A central goal of the EAGLE Earth Observation programme is to equip students with a broad and practical understanding of the software tools used in geospatial analysis. Rather than focusing on a single platform, students are encouraged to explore different approaches,...
Mapping Disasters from Space: Inside the EAGLE MSc Course on Natural Hazards
From raging wildfires to devastating floods, natural hazards are becoming more frequent, more intense, and harder to predict. In this rapidly changing world, the ability to understand disasters as they unfold is no longer optional—it’s essential. This is exactly where...
From Satellites to Snow Angels
Our EAGLE M.Sc. students, coming from all over the world, are making the most of the short breaks between courses. Whether it’s spontaneous snow angel sessions or friendly snowball fights around the EORC, laughter and flying snow are never far away. These moments of...
Where Learning Meets Friendship
At EAGLE, studying together is only part of the story. Our students are more than classmates — they’re hiking buddies, party companions, and the kind of people who show up to lectures with birthday cakes 🎂. Today was a perfect example. Our EAGLE student...
EAGLE Innolab Presentation: “Gap-Filling Optical NDVI Using SAR-Derived Indices and Machine Learning”
On February 10, 2026, Mahnoor Nadeem will present her Innolab results on " Gap-Filling Optical NDVI Using SAR-Derived Indices and Machine Learning" at 12:00 in seminar room 3, John-Skilton-Str. 4a. From the abstract: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is...
EAGLE Internship Presentation: “Internship at Helmholtz Zentrum Munich”
On February 03, 2026, Agnes Zwick will present her internship "Internship at Helmholtz Zentrum Munich" at 12:00 in seminar room 3, John-Skilton-Str. 4a. From the abstract: From September to October 2025, the internship was completed at the Helmholtz Zentrum München...
EAGLE MSc Defense: “Assessing the potential of thermal UAS for spatio-temporal Arctic snow monitoring – A pilot study in Bjørndalen, Svalbard”
On February 24, 2026, Lena Jäger will present her Master Thesis on "Assessing the potential of thermal UAS for spatio-temporal Arctic snow monitoring - A pilot study in Bjørndalen, Svalbard" at 12:00 in seminar room 3, John-Skilton-Str. 4a. From the abstract: The...
Learning Earth Observation Data Acquisition in Real-World Conditions
As part of our course on Earth Observation data acquisition, EAGLE students experience first-hand that even the best planning is ultimately shaped by the weather. While flight plans, measurement strategies, and schedules can be carefully prepared in advance, field...
Snow Research at Schneefernerhaus, Zugspitze
Recently, our team carried out another successful field campaign at the Schneefernerhaus research station on the Zugspitze in the Alps. Together with our EAGLE students, we collected UAS-based environmental data alongside detailed in-situ measurements of snow...
EAGLE MSc Defense: “Detecting Snow Phases and Runoff Using Sentinel-1 SAR and Multispectral–Optical Data”
On December 09, 2025, Daria Ushakova will present her Master Thesis on " Detecting Snow Phases and Runoff Using Sentinel-1 SAR and Multispectral–Optical Data " at 13:00 in seminar room 3, John-Skilton-Str. 4a. From the abstract: Snow is a crucial component of the...