Suggested Text
Lillesand, T.M., Kiefer, R.W., and Chipman, J.W. 1994. Remote Sensing and Image
Interpretation, Wiley & Sons (3rd edition),
Jensen, J. R., 2000. Remote Sensing of the Environment: An Earth Resource
Perspective, Prentice Hall (2nd edition), 544 pp.
Introduction to Remote Sensing
What is Remote Sensing?
• Remote sensing is the science of acquiring
information about the Earth's surface without
actually being in contact with it.
What is Remote Sensing?
• Remote sensing is the science of acquiring,
processing and interpreting information that
record the interaction between
electromagnetic energy and matter.
What is Remote Sensing?
• Remote sensing is the science and art of
obtaining information about an object, area,
or phenomenon through the analysis of data
acquired by a device that is not in contact with
the object, area, or phenomenon under
investigation.
What is Remote Sensing?
• Remote sensing is the instrumentation,
techniques and methods to observe the
Earth`s surface at a distance and to interpret
the images or numerical values obtained in
order to acquire meaningful information of
particular object on Earth.
How does Remote Sensing work?
• Remote Sensing is performed by sensing and
recording reflected or emitted energy and
processing, analyzing, and applying that
information".
Remote Sensing Overview
• Observation without direct contact.
• The result is usually stored as image data.
• The characteristics measured by a sensor are
electromagnetic energy reflected or emitted by
the Earth`s surface.
• The energy relates to some specific parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum usually visible light,
but it may also be infrared light or radio waves
etc.
• There are wide range of remote sensing sensors,
like airborne, spaceborne sensors.
Remote sensing systems
Remote sensing systems
Eyes
Remote sensing systems
Eyes
Nose
Remote sensing systems
Eyes
Nose
Ears
Remote sensing systems
Sensors on
Eyes Satellites
Aerial cameras
Nose on
Aircraft
Ears
Early Remote Sensing Systems
What can satellites see?
Satellite electromagnetic sensors let us “see” beyond the visible...
How do imaging satellites work?
Satellite electromagnetic sensors “see” reflected and emitted radiation
Remote Sensing Process Components
A. Energy Source or Illumination
B. Radiation and the Atmosphere
C. Interaction with the Target
D. Recording of Energy by the
Sensor
E. Transmission, Reception,
and Processing
F. Interpretation and Analysis
G. Application
Why remote sensing?
• Cost effective
• Time effective
• Provides bird`s eye view
• Capture data that human eye is incapable to
see
• Data can be sensed at different scales
(temporal and spatial)
Limitation of remote sensing
• In principal, remote sensing provides
information about the upper few millimetres
of the Earth`s surface.
• Some techniques, specifically in the
microwave domain, relate to greater depth.
• Additional models/ assumptions are required
to estimate subsurface characteristics.
Remote Sensing Images
Creating Color: Additive Primaries
Color Composite Images
Multispectral Remote Sensing Images
Remote Sensing Applications
• Archaeology
• Agriculture
• Cartography
• Civil Engineering
• Climatology
• Coastal Studies
• Emergency Response
• Forestry
• Geology
• Hazards
• Land--Use
Land
• Meteorology
• Natural Disasters
• Oceanography
• Water Resources
Agricultural Applications
crop type classification
crop condition assessment
crop yield estimation
mapping of soil characteristics
mapping of soil management practices
compliance monitoring (farming practices)
precision farming
Agricultural Example
Crops Monitoring (Tornado Damage)
Precision Agriculture
Color variations determined by crop density (also referred to as "Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index", or NDVI), where dark blues and greens indicate lush vegetation and
reds show areas of bare soil.
Source: NASA Earth Observatory
Precision Agriculture
Map of water deficit, derived from the Daedalus’ reflectance and temperature
measurements. Greens and yellow indicate wet soil and reds are dry soil.
Source: NASA Earth Observatory
Precision Agriculture
Stress is indicated by red and yellow.
Source: NASA Earth Observatory
Forestry Applications
forest cover type discrimination
clear cut mapping / regeneration assessment
burn delineation
infrastructure mapping / operations support
forest inventory
biomass estimation
species inventory
forest health and vigour
Forest Burns
Geological Applications
surficial deposit / bedrock mapping
lithological mapping
structural mapping
sand and gravel (aggregate) exploration/ exploitation
mineral exploration
hydrocarbon exploration
environmental geology
sedimentation mapping and monitoring
geo-hazard mapping
Structural Mapping
Geological Unit Mapping
Hydrological Applications
wetlands mapping and monitoring,
soil moisture estimation,
snow pack monitoring,
measuring snow thickness,
river and lake ice monitoring,
flood mapping and monitoring,
glacier dynamics monitoring
drainage basin mapping and watershed modelling
irrigation mapping
Floods and Disaster Response
Example
Land-Use Land-Cover Applications
natural resource management
wildlife habitat protection
urban expansion / encroachment
damage delineation (tornadoes, flooding, volcanic,
seismic, fire)
legal boundaries for tax and property evaluation
target detection - identification of landing strips,
roads, clearings, bridges, land/water interface
Land Cover Classification
Urban Expansion
Species Mapping
Regional and Global Landcover
Classification
Mapping Applications
–planimetry
–digital elevation models (DEM's)
–baseline thematic mapping
–topographic mapping
Planimetric Mapping
Digital Elevation Models
Topographic Mapping
Ocean Applications
Ocean pattern identification:
Storm forecasting
Fish stock and marine mammal assessment
Water temperature monitoring
Water quality
Ocean productivity, phytoplankton concentration and drift
Mapping and predicting oilspill extent and drift
Strategic support for oil spill emergency response decisions
Shipping navigation routing
Mapping shoreline features / beach dynamics
Coastal vegetation mapping
Internal Waves
Ocean Color Mapping
Oil Spills
Nimbus Images
Early
Satellite Images
