Remote Sensing

Contents
Definition

Aerial Remote Sensing

Types of Remote Sensing

Image Processing in Remote Sensing

Elements involved in Remote

Sensing

Types of Resolution

Process of Remote Sensing

Correction

Sensors

Advantages & Disadvantages of

Remote Sensing

Usual Platforms

Applications

Interaction with Atmosphere

Conclusion

Remote Sensing & GIS

DEFINITION
It is the acquisition of information about an object or
phenomenon without making physical contact with the object
In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial
sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by
means of propagated signals

TYPES (on basis of energy)

Active Remote Sensing
(artificial energy source)

Passive Remote Sensing

(natural energy source)

TYPES (on basis of range of electromagnetic radiation)

Optical Remote Sensing
(wavelength range 300nm-3000nm)
Thermal Remote Sensing
(wavelength range 3000-14000nm)
Microwave Remote Sensing
(wavelength range 1mm-1m)

ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN REMOTE SENSING

Source of energy
Radiation and the atmosphere
Interaction with object
Recording of energy by sensor
Transmission, reception and processing
Interpretation and analysis
Application

PROCESS OF REMOTE SENSING

Data acquisition

Processing
Analysis

Accuracy assessment
Information distribution to users

SENSORS
Imaging Sensors
Sensors which provide output to create image
Example: LISS I, LISS II, LISS III, etc (Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor LISS)

Non-imaging Sensors
Sensors which provide numerical output with respect to quantum of radiation
Example: Radiometer, Scatterometer, etc

USUAL PLATFORMS
AIRCRAFT
Helicopters
Microlites
Low altitude aircrafts
High altitude aircrafts
SATELLITE
Orbiting satellites
Geostationary satellites

INTERACTION WITH THE ATMOSPHERE

Radiation used for remote sensing has to travel through Earths
atmosphere
Particles and gases in the atmosphere can affect it

These effects are caused by mechanisms of scattering and

absorption

Remote Sensing & GIS

The science of acquiring information about the Earth using remote
instruments, such as satellites
It is inherently useful for disaster management
Satellites offer accurate, frequent and almost instantaneous data
over large areas anywhere in the world
When a disaster strikes, remote sensing is often the only way to
view what is happening on the ground

Remote Sensing & GIS (Contd..)

Energy Source or Illumination (A)
Radiation and the Atmosphere (B)
Interaction with the Target (C)
Recording of Energy by the Sensor (D)
Transmission, Reception, and Processing (E)
Interpretation and Analysis (F)
Application (G)

Aerial Remote Sensing

Aerial Remote Sensing Aerial photography is the most commonly
used form of remote sensing and is widely used for topographic
mapping, surveys for geological, soil and forestry mapping,
engineering, town planning and environmental surveys on larger
scale

IMAGE PROCESSING IN REMOTE SENSING

Input data

Reconstruction/ correction
Transformation

Classification
Output

TYPES OF RESOLUTION
Spatial Resolution
The size of a pixel that is recorded in a raster image

Spectral Resolution
The wavelength width of the different frequency bands recorded

Radiometric Resolution
The number of different intensities of radiation the sensor is able to distinguish

Temporal Resolution
The frequency of flyovers by the satellite or plane

CORRECTION
Radiometric correction
Gives a scale to the pixel values
Topographic correction
In rugged mountains, as a result of terrain, the effective illumination
of pixels varies considerably. The purpose of topographic correction
is to eliminate this effect
Atmospheric correction
Elimination of atmospheric haze by rescaling each frequency band

ADVANTAGES OF REMOTE SENSING

Real time
Spatial locations and extent of features can be corrected accurately
Cheaper
Faster
Different scales
Easy updation
More analytical themes
Remote sensors "see" over a broader portion of the spectrum than the
human eye

DISADVANTAGES OF REMOTE SENSING

Expensive to build and operate

Measurement uncertainty can be large

Data interpretation can be difficult

APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING

Conventional radar is mostly associated with aerial traffic control,
early warning, and certain large scale meteorological data
Altimeters measure wind speeds and direction, and surface ocean
currents and directions
Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) is well known in examples of
weapon ranging, laser illuminated homing of projectiles

Radiometers and photometers are the most common instrument in

use, collecting reflected and emitted radiation in a wide range of
frequencies

RADAR

LIDAR

APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING (Contd..)

Stereographic pairs of aerial photographs have often been used to
make topographic maps
Hyperspectral imagers are used in various applications including
mineralogy, biology, defense, and environmental measurements
remote sensing allows to follow-up and monitor risk areas in the
long term, to determine desertification factors

Conclusion
Remote Sensing and GIS technology is very effective tool for
suggesting action plans /management strategies for various
disciplines
The technique of obtaining information about objects through the
analysis of data collected by special instruments that are not in
physical contact with the objects of investigation