Remote sensing involves obtaining information about objects through analysis of sensor data without physical contact. It uses electromagnetic radiation as an information carrier. The key elements of remote sensing are an energy source, interaction with the atmosphere and target, sensor recording, data transmission and processing, interpretation and analysis, and applications. Sensors can be passive, using natural radiation sources like the sun, or active, providing their own electromagnetic radiation. Remote sensing provides regional views of large areas and repetitive monitoring with benefits like multi-spectral data collection and day/night usage.

2. Remote Sensing
Weather forecasting
Google mapping

3. Remote Sensing?
 Remote sensing is defined as 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.
 Collection of information about an object
without coming into physical contact.
 The information needs a physical carrier to
travel from the objects/events to the sensors
through an intervening medium.
 The electromagnetic radiation is normally
used as an information carrier in remote
sensing.
 The output of a remote sensing system is
usually an image representing the scene
being observed.

4.  The technology of modern remote sensing
began with the invention of the camera more
than 150 years ago.
 The idea and practice of looking down at the
Earth's surface emerged in the 1840s when
pictures were taken from cameras secured to
tethered balloons for purposes of topographic
mapping.
 Satellite remote sensing can be traced to the
early days of the space age (both Russian and
American programs) and actually began as a
dual approach to imaging surfaces using
several types of sensors from spacecraft.
 The term "remote sensing," first used in the
United States in the 1950s by Ms. Evelyn
Pruitt of the U.S.
History

5. Elements involved in Remote sensing
1. Energy Source or Illumination
(A)
2. Radiation and the Atmosphere
(B)
3. Interaction with the Object (C)
4. Recording of Energy by the
Sensor (D)
5. Transmission, Reception and
Processing (E)
6. Interpretation and Analysis (F)
7. Application (G)

6. Energy Source or Illumination
The first requirement for remote sensing is to have a
energy source, which illuminates or provides
electromagnetic energy to the target of interest.
Sensors can be classified as passive or active, based on
the source of energy they are using. Sensors, which
sense natural radiations, either emitted or reflected
from the Earth, are called Passive Sensors. Most of the
remote sensing sensors are passive in nature, which
measure the solar radiation reflected from the target.
On the other hand, the sensors which produce their
own electromagnetic radiation are called Active

7. Interaction with the Target
As energy travels from its source to the target, it will
come in contact with & 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.
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 & the radiation. A
number of interactions are possible when
electromagnetic energy encounters matter, whether
solid, liquid or gas.
 Radiation may be transmitted
 Radiation may be absorbed by a substance

8. Recording of Energy by the
sensors
After the energy has been scattered by or emitted from
the target, we require a sensor to collect and record the
electromagnetic radiation.
The sensors are popularly known by the EMR region they
sense. Remote sensing can be broadly classified as
Optical and Microwave.
In Optical Remote Sensing, sensors detect solar
radiation in the visible, near, middle & thermal infrared
wavelength regions, reflected/scattered or emitted from
the Earth.

9. Transmission, Reception and
processing
The energy recorded by the sensor has to be transmitted,
often in electronic form, to a receiving and processing
station at earth where the data are processed and stored
in digital form.

10. Interpretation and Analysis
The processed data is interpreted, visually and/or digitally to extract information
about the target which was illuminated. Specialized instruments/hardware and
software are used for this purpose that are commonly known as Image Processing
Tools.The final element of the remote sensing process is achieved when we apply the
extracted information in solving a particular problem. Specialists working in each
application field/theme generally are able to carry out this task.

11. Remote Sensing Sensors
 Active Remote Sensors :-
 Active remote sensing uses an artificial source for
energy.
 For example the satellite itself can send a pulse of
energy which can interact with the target.
 In active remote sensing, humans can control the
nature (wavelength, power, duration) of the source
energy. Active remote sensing can be carried out
during day and night and in all weather conditions.

12. Conti…
Passive remote sensing:-
 Passive remote sensing depends on a natural
source to provide energy.
 For example sun is the most powerful and
commonly used source of energy for passive
remote sensing.
 The satellite sensor in this case records primarily
the radiation that is reflected from the target.

13. ACTIVE & PASSIVE REMOTE
SENSING

14. Passive & Active Remote Sensing
Passive Remote Sensing uses
Sun as the source of energy
Active Remote Sensing uses
microwaves, laser fluorosensor
and a synthetic aperture radar.

15. Advantages of remote sensing:-
 Provides a regional view (large areas).
 Provides repetitive looks at the same area.
 Remote sensors "see" over a broader.
portion of the spectrum than the human
eye.
 Provides geo-referenced, digital, data.
 Some remote sensors operate in all
seasons, at night, and in bad weather.

16. DISADVANTAGE OF REMOTE
SENSING:-
 Expensive to build and operate
 Needs ground verification
 Not the best tool for small areas
 Needs expert system to extract data

17. Applications of Remote sensing
 Meteorology
 Profiling of atmospheric temp. and water
vapor
 Measuring wind velocity
 Oceanography
 Measurements of sea surface temperature
 Mapping ocean currents
 Glaciology
 Mapping motion of sea ice and ice sheets
 Determining the navigability of the sea
 Geology
 Identification of rock types
 Location of geological faults and
anomalies

18. Applications of Remote sensing
 Agriculture
Monitoring the extend and type of vegetation
Mapping soil types
 Hydrology
Assessing water resources
Forecasting melt water run-off from snow
 Disaster control
Warning of sand and dust storms, flooding
Monitoring of pollution