Introduction to Remote Sensing

Definition
What is Remote Sensing?

So, what exactly is remote sensing? For the purposes of this

tutorial, we will use the following definition:

"Remote sensing is the science (and to some extent, art) 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."
Basic Element of a Remote
System
• (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

• (G) Application
 Process of Remote Sensing
In much of remote sensing, the process involves an interaction
between incident radiation and the targets of interest. This is
exemplified by the use of imaging systems where the following seven
elements are involved.

1. 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.
2. 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.

3. 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.
4. 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.

5. 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).
6. Interpretation and Analysis (F) - the processed image is interpreted,
visually and/or digitally or electronically, to extract information about the
target which was illuminated.

7. 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.
In general The process of remote sensing
12
65

C 28
33
76
E

D
A
B
A. Radiation and C. Energy
the atmosphere recorded and
converted by E. Interpretation
B. Interaction with
D. sensor
Reception and and analysis
target
processing Text by the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing
 All electromagnetic radiation has fundamental properties
and behaves in predictable ways according to the basics of
wave theory.

Electromagnetic radiation consists of an electrical field(E)

which varies in magnitude in a direction perpendicular to the
direction in which the radiation is traveling, and a magnetic
field (M) oriented at right angles to the electrical field. Both
these fields travel at the speed of light (c).
Two characteristics of electromagnetic radiation are
particularly important for understanding remote sensing.
These are the

•wavelength and
•frequency.
wavelength

frequency
• Therefore, the two (wavelength & frequency) are inversely

related to each other.

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 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). There are several regions of the electromagnetic
spectrum which are useful for remote sensing.
 Radiation - Target Interactions

Radiation that is not absorbed or scattered in the atmosphere

can reach and interact with the Earth's surface. There are three
(3) forms of interaction that can take place when energy
strikes, or is incident (I) upon the surface. These are:
absorption (A); transmission (T); and reflection (R). The
total incident energy will interact with the surface in one or
more of these three ways. The proportions of each will depend
on the wavelength of the energy and the material and condition
of the feature.
 Passive Remote Sensing

• The sun provides a very convenient source of energy for

remote sensing.

• The sun's energy is either reflected, as it is for visible

wavelengths, or absorbed and then reemitted, as it is for
thermal infrared wavelengths.
 Active Remote Sensing

• Active sensors, on the other hand, provide their own energy

source for illumination.

• The sensor emits radiation which is directed toward the target

to be investigated.

• Advantages for active sensors include the ability to obtain

measurements anytime, regardless of the time of day or
season.

• Active sensors can be used for

examining wavelengths that are
not sufficiently provided by the
sun, such as microwaves, or to
better control the way a target is
Illuminated.
 Ground based sensor
20

 used to record detailed

information about the surface
 to compare with information
collected from aircraft or
satellite sensors.
can be used to better
characterize the target, which
is being imaged by these other
sensors,
Crane - to Building
and tall better understand
are example of ground
 Aerial platforms
21

• Primarily stable wing aircraft

• helicopter occasionally
• Often used to collect very detailed images and facilitate the
collection of data over virtually any portion of the Earth's
surface at any time.
• Sensors are generally fix at the bottom of
aircraft’s
 Space platforms
22

Space Shuttle

r Satellites orbiting the Earth

• Satellites Space shuttle

• Because of their orbits, satellites permit repetitive

coverage of the Earth's surface on a continuing basis.
• Cost is often a significant factor in choosing among the
various platform options.
 MAJOR EARTH OBSERVING SATELLITES

• Landsat

• SPOT

• Ikonos

• IRS

their Source are USGS

Electromagnetic Energy
 It is a form of energy that moves with
the velocity of light (3x108 m/sec) in a
harmonic pattern consisting of sinusoidal
waves, equally and repetitively spaced in
time.
 It has two fields (i) electrical field and ii)
magnetic field, both being orthogonal to
each other.
 Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum may be defined as

the ordering of the radiation according to
wavelength, frequency, or energy.
8-bit range
0 255
.

The image characteristics are usually

referred to as:
 Spatial characteristics, which refer to

the area measured

 Spectral characteristics, which refer to

the spectral wavelengths that the sensor

is sensitive
 Radiometric characteristics, which

refer to the energy levels that are

measured by the sensor.
 Temporal characteristics, which refer
Application of remote sensing: Mapping

 Planimetry: Ground surveying techniques can be

used to meet high accuracy requirements, but
limitations include cost effectiveness, and difficulties in
attempting to map large, or remote areas.
 Digital elevation models (DEM's): Generating
DEMs from remotely sensed data can be cost effective
and efficient. Two primary methods are
 1. Stereogrammetry techniques using airphotos
(photogrammetry), VIR imagery, or radar data
(radargrammetry), and
 2. Radar interferometry.
 Baseline thematic mapping / topographic
mapping:
 Remote sensing application

 Remote sensing affords a practical means for accurate

and continuous monitoring of the earth’s surface and
other resources and of determining the impact of
man’s activities on air, water and land.
 A summary of remote sensing application is given

below, discipline wise.

 Land use and soil

- Mapping of land use/cover

- Change detection
- Soil categorization
 Urban land use

- Urban land use mapping, Monitoring urban sprawl -

 Conti…
Water Resources
 - Monitoring surface water bodies frequently and estimation of

their spatial extent

Watershed
 - Delineation of watershed boundaries/partitioning of micro

watershed
 - Watershed characteristic at larger scale such as size, shape,

drainage, land cover

Facilities management
 - Locating underground pipes, cables

 - Planning facility maintenance

 Digital Elevation Model

 - Contour (>10 m)

 - Slope/aspect analysis