This document provides an overview of remote sensing and its applications. It begins with definitions and advantages of remote sensing, including obtaining 3D views from a distance without physical contact and permanently storing data that can be reused. Platforms for remote sensing include airborne and spaceborne options. Applications discussed include topographic mapping, forestry monitoring, land use analysis, and more. Geographic Information Systems are introduced as a way to integrate spatial and non-spatial data for analysis and visualization to aid decision making.

1. MODULE VII: Remote
Sensing
Presented By: Avantika Adhruj

2. Remote Sensing: Introduction
01
02
Geographic Information Systems
03
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Aerial photo interpretation
04
Interpretation of aerial photographs
RS and GIS in Forestry: Forest cover
monitoring
05

3. INTRODUCTION
Definition: Remote sensing is the art and science of obtaining information
about an object, area, or phenomenon through the analysis of data acquired
by a device without being in physical contact.
Advantages:
● It provides three-dimensional view.
● It can record the information, which is not visible to humankind.
● The data recording is stored permanently.
● The same data can be used in many applications wherever it is needed.
● Satellite data are received periodically and helps in monitoring the
changes at short intervals.

4. Principle of Remote Sensing
In remote sensing, reflected energy
from the object is recorded by a
sensor. The information
about the object is obtained
through the analysis of reflected
rays.
Three energy interactions occurs
when electromagnetic energy falls
on any surface feature i.e.
reflection, absorption and
transmission.

5. Aerial photography
Kinds of Platform
Air Borne Platforms
Space borne
Platforms
Sun synchronous/
Polar/Natural
resources
satellites
Geostationary/
Earth
synchronous
satellites
Air crafts
Balloons

6. James Wallace Black's aerial
photograph taken from tethered hot
air balloon Queen of the Air 2,000 feet
above Boston on October 13, 1860

7. An act of examining photographic images and judging
their significance.
API depends on:
1) Training and experience of the interpreter
2) Nature of the object being interpreted
3) The quality of the product used for interpretation.
Aerial Photo Interpretation

8. Interpretation of aerial
photographs
color
Textur
e
Shape Size
Pattern Shadows Location Association

9. Application of remote sensing
❖ Topographical
mapping
❖ Geology
❖ Soil mapping
❖ Forestry applications
❖ Terrain evaluation
❖ Land use/Land cover
mapping
❖ Agricultural
applications
❖ Water resources
application
❖ Environment studies
/ Flood damage
studies

10. Remote sensing and GIS applications
in Forestry
➢ Forest cover mapping
➢ Assessment of change
in forest cover
➢ Forest density
determination
➢ Detection of density
change
➢ Forest fire mapping
➢ Forest fire risk
assessment
➢ Habitat evaluation
➢ Land use/Land cover
mapping
➢ Land degradation
mapping
➢ Soil resource mapping
➢ Watershed
management

11. Forest Cover Mapping: Visible Interpretation
Satellite map
Base map (state and district
boundaries, settlements, drainage)
Base map is overlaid on imagery
Interpretation of imagery based on
keys
Settlements and agricultural areas
demarcation
Categorization of Forest area (The
scheme of classification of forest)
Ground truth verification
Corrections Rectification
Forest Cover Map

13. Scheme of classification
Category Remark
Dense forest All lands with canopy density of 40 percent and above
Open forest All lands with canopy density between 10 to 40 percent
Mangrove Salt tolerant forest ecosystem found in inter-tidal regions
Scrub All lands with poor tree growth and canopy density of less than
10 percent
Non-forest Any area not included in the above classes

14. Image Processing (DIP)
Image Correction
NDVI
Forest Cover Map
Forest Cover Mapping: Digital Interpretation

16. ● By comparing the two sets of satellite imagery.
● Carried out once in 5 or 10 year.
● Initially both satellite imageries are subjected to forest
cover mapping process.
● Then the two maps obtained is overlaid to identity the
changes happened.
● Note: Both imageries should be of same scale and
resolution.
2. Assessment of change in
forest cover

19. Forest density determination: information on structure
and composition of forest using NDVI.
Detection of density change: Comparison between two
density Maps.
Forest fire mapping: Initially the two images (monsoon
and summer season) are visually compared for drastic
reduction in reflection pattern for the particular forest.
Other Application

20. A computer-assisted information system for the
acquisition, storage, analysis and display of geographic
data in a desired manner. It has the ability to assimilate
divergent sources of data both spatial and non-spatial and
produces impacts more visually.
Geographic
Information System

21. ● It facilitates planning of project.
● It makes better decision making.
● Visual analysis is easily done.
● It improves the organizational integration.
● It helps the choice of input selection.
Advantage of GIS

22. Components of GIS
Data
Soft -
ware
Hardwa
-re
Methd-
ology
Liverwa
-re

23. ● Topographic and thematic mapping.
● Surveying and cartography.
● Remote sensing, image processing
● Earth science and geographical applications.
● Assist in decision-makers to select alternatives
resources.
● Modeling for various applications.
● Environmental pollution and natural hazard
management.
GIS applications