Environmental Remote

Sensing
SS21503

Lecture 1 :
Introduction to remote
sensing
 Lecture 1 Outline/Key Points

1. Definition of remote sensing & history

2. Why remote sensing???
3. The remote sensing process
4. Electromagnetic radiation and spectrum
 Definition of remote sensing

◼ Definition 1 – Remote sensing is the acquiring

of information about an object or scene
without touching it through using
electromagnetic energy
where : RS deals with systems whose
data can be used to recreate images
: RS deals with detection of the
atmosphere, oceans, or land surface
Definition 2 - Remote sensing is the noncontact
recording of information from the UV, visible, IR,
and microwave regions of the EM spectrum by
means of a variety of electro-optical systems,
and the generation and delivery of information
products based on the processing of these data
◼ Definition 3 - "Remote sensing is the science,
art and technology of acquiring information
about the Earth's surface without actually being
in contact with it. This is done by sensing and
recording reflected or emitted energy and
processing, analyzing, and applying that
information"
(Canadian Center for Remote Sensing).
◼ REMOTE SENSING includes all methods
and techniques used to gain qualitative and
quantitative information about distant objects
without coming into direct contact with these
objects.
◼ Look-Look, NO Touch
 REMOTE SENSING HISTORY

• Remote sensing began

in 1840 when balloonists
used “new camera technology”
to take pictures.

• At the turn of the

century there was a
“pigeon fleet” in Europe.

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• Camera systems
were placed on V-2
rockets tested at
White Sands, NM
after WW II.

• Sputnik in 1957
changed our outlook
toward using outer
space as a place from
which to observe the
earth.
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 WHY REMOTE SENSING ?

◼ 1. Electromagnetic energy being detected by remote

sensors is dependent on the characteristic of the
surface or atmosphere being sensed –
– Remote sensing provides unique information
◼ 2. Many portions of the earth’s surface and
atmosphere are difficult to sample and measure
using in situ measurements
– Only way to systematically collect data in many
regions
◼ 3. Remote sensors can continuously collect data
– Reliable and consistent source of information
 Remote Sensing (RS) methods try to answer
four basic questions:

1. HOW MUCH of WHAT is WHERE?

2. What is the SHAPE ? (Area, Boundaries, Lineaments,
...)
3. Has it CHANGED?
4. What is the MIX of Objects?
HOW MUCH of WHAT is WHERE?

HOW MUCH: determine by simple counting,

measuring area covered or percentage of total area
coverage.

WHAT:
a. Type: eg. water, vegetation, land.
b. Characteristic: eg. temperature, concentration, state
of development.

WHERE: Relate locations and area covered to either a

standard map or to the actual location on the ‘ground’
where the object occurs
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◼ What is the SHAPE? (Area, Boundaries, Lineaments,
...)
◼ This extends the ‘WHERE’ to be a completely
GEOMETRIC problem.
◼ MAP PRODUCTION methods are to be applied to the
analysis of RS information. These include:
- Identification and Delineation of Boundaries and
Lineaments (Roads, Rivers, Fault Lines)

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◼ Has it CHANGED?
Land use change in
Pulau Indah from
mangrove forest to
industrial area

CHANGE may occur with progress of TIME.

Change may be detected through comparison of
observed states at different moments in time.
=> CHANGE DETECTION
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 What is the MIX of Objects?

❑ One important task for Remote Sensing is to

identify GENERIC OBJECTS as well as ABSTRACT
OBJECTS within areas of interest

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◼ What is the MIX of Objects?
The surface of the Earth is
covered by objects like Soil,
Water, Grass, Trees, Forest
and so on. These are
‘GENERIC OBJECTS’.

◼ We know these well, but we

also know objects like Houses,
Residential and Industrial
Estates, Road etc. Each of
these ABSTRACT OBJECTS are
made up of a typical collection
of Generic Objects.
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 The remote sensing process

◼ In much of remote sensing, the process involves an

interaction between incident radiation and the
targets of interest.
◼ This is exemplified using imaging systems where
the following seven elements are involved.
 What is REMOTE SENSING ?
Sensor System eg. Camera
Source of Force
Field

DATA Resulting RS Data

ACQUISITION Set
Reflection eg. Image

Object
◼ Energy Source or Illumination (A) - the first
requirement for remote sensing is to have an energy
source which illuminates or provides electromagnetic
energy to the target of interest.

◼ Radiation and the Atmosphere (B) - as the energy

travels from its source to the target, it will come in
contact with and interact with the atmosphere it passes
through. This interaction may take place a second time
as the energy travels from the target to the sensor.

◼ Interaction with the Target (C) - once the energy

makes its way to the target through the atmosphere, it
interacts with the target depending on the properties of
both the target and the radiation.
◼ Recording of Energy by the Sensor (D) - after the
energy has been scattered by, or emitted from the target,
we require a sensor (remote - not in contact with the
target) to collect and record the electromagnetic
radiation.

◼ Transmission, Reception, and Processing (E) - the

energy recorded by the sensor has to be transmitted,
often in electronic form, to a receiving and processing
station where the data are processed into an image
(hardcopy and/or digital).

◼ Interpretation and Analysis (F) - the processed image

is interpreted, visually and/or digitally or electronically, to
extract information about the target which was
illuminated
◼ Application (G) - the final element of the
remote sensing process is achieved when
we apply the information we have been
able to extract from the imagery about the
target in order to better understand it,
reveal some new information, or assist in
solving a particular problem
 Electromagnetic Radiation
◼ the first requirement for remote sensing is to have an energy
source to illuminate the target (unless the sensed energy
is being emitted by the target).
◼ Two characteristics of electromagnetic radiation are
particularly important for understanding remote sensing.
These are the wavelength and frequency.
◼ The wavelength is the length of one wave cycle, which can be
measured as the distance between successive wave crests.
◼ Wavelength is measured in metres (m) or some factor of
metres such as nanometres (nm, 10-9 metres),
micrometres (μm, 10-6 metres)
◼ Frequency refers to the number of cycles of a wave passing a
fixed point per unit of time. Frequency is normally measured
in hertz (Hz),
 D
A C
E
B
◼ Wavelength and frequency are related
by the following formula
◼ The shorter the wavelength, the higher the
frequency. The longer the wavelength the
lower the frequency.
◼ Understanding the characteristics of
electromagnetic radiation in terms of their
wavelength and frequency is crucial to
understanding the information to be extracted
from remote sensing data, the lower the
frequency.
 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
◼ The electromagnetic spectrum ranges from the
shorter wavelengths (including gamma and x-rays) to
the longer wavelengths (including microwaves and
broadcast radio waves).
◼ Remote sensing uses the radiant energy that is
reflected, emitted, or scattered from the Earth and its
atmosphere from various portions (“wavelengths”) of
the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum – referred to as
electromagnetic radiation
◼ Some Earth surface materials, primarily rocks and
minerals, forest or emit visible light when illuminated
by UV radiation.
 EM Spectrum Regions Used in
Remote Sensing

λ = EM
radiation
wavelength

1. Ultraviolet ( λ < 0.4 μm)

2. Visible ( 0.4 μm < λ < 0.7 μm)
3. IR ( 0.7 μm < λ < 2.8 μm)
4. (thermal) IR ( 2.4 μm <λ<20 μm)
5. Microwave ( 1 cm < λ < 1 m)
6. Radiowave (Radar) > 1m
THANK YOU