Here is a presentation prepared by me on Remote sensing and its Applications in agriculture. This presentation created after studying many regarding websites, articles and research papers. Thank You

1. REMOTE SENSING AND
ITS APPLICATIONS IN
AGRICULTURE
PRESENTED BY:-
VIKAS KUMAR
2ND YEAR STUDENT OF B.SC.(AGRICULTURE)
GOCHAR MAHAVIDYALYA
RAMPUR MANIHARAN, SAHARANPUR (UP)

2. Remote Sensing
The word “Remote sensing” was coined by Fischer
in 1960 AD. Remote sensing is defined as “Collection and
interpretation of information about a target without being in
physical contact with it”. According to Lilesand and Kiefer, remote
sensing is “The science and art of obtaining information about
an object, area or phenomenon through the analysis of data
acquired by a device that is not in contact with the object, area
or phenomenon under investigation”.
In the simple words, the science of acquiring
information about an object, without entering in contact with the
object by sensing and recording reflected or emitted energy and
processing, analysing and applying that information.

3. History of remote Sensing
 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 1840 when pictures were taken from cameras
secured to balloons for purposes of topographic mapping.
 Satellite remote sensing can be traced to the early days of the
space age and actually began as a dual approach to imaging
surfaces using several types of censors from spacecraft.
 The term “Remote Sensing” first used in United States in the
1950s by Mr. Evelya Pruill of the US.

4. Basic Concepts of Remote Sensing
There are two basic interactions between
electromagnetic energy and earth surface feature. These
interactions are considered as basic concepts of remote sensing.
1. The propositions of energy reflected, absorbed and
transmitted will vary for different earth features, depending on
their material type and condition. These differences permit to
distinguish different features on an image.
2. Even within a given feature type, the proportion of reflected,
absorbed and transmitted energy will vary at different
wavelengths.

5. Components of Remote Sensing
1. Platform:- A platform is defined as the carrier for remote
sensing sensors . There are three major remote sensing
platforms- Ground level platform (towers and cranes), Aerial
platforms (Helicopters, low altitude aircraft, high altitude
aircraft), and Spaceborne Platforms (Space shuttles, polar-
orbiting satellites and geo-stationary satellite).
2. Sensors:- It is a device that receives electro-magnetic
radiations and converts it into a signal that can be recorded
and displayed as either numerical data or an image.

7. Elements involved in Remote Sensing
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 Object (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 Sensors (D)*:- After the energy has
been scattered or emitted from the target, we require a sensor to
collect and record the electromagnetic radiation.
*Specific word indicates elements in picture.

8. 5. Transmission, Reception and Processing (E)*:- The energy
recorded by the sensor 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/ digital).
6. Interpretation and Analysis (F)*:- The processed image is
interpreted, visually 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.
*Specific word indicates elements in picture in next slide.

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

10. Basic processes in Remote Sensing
There are following fundamental processes which applied in
Remote Sensing:-
a) Data Acquisition (Energy propagation, Platforms)
b) Processing (Conversion of energy pattern to images)
c) Analysis (Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis)
d) Accuracy Assessment (Radiometric and Geometric
Correction)
e) Information Distribution to users.

11. Types of Remote Sensing
There are two types of remote sensing:-
1. Active Remote Sensing:- This type of a system propagates its
own electro-magnetic radiation and measures the intensity of the
return signal. Thus active remote sensing means that the sensor
provides its own illumination and measures what comes back.
Synthetic Aperture Radar is an example of an active system.
2. Passive Remote Sensing:- It generally consists of any array of
small sensors or detectors, which records the amount of electro-
magnetic radiation reflected or emitted from the Earth’s surface.
Thus, passive remote sensing relies on naturally reflected or
emitted energy of the imaged surface. Passive visible and near
infra-red data are used in a variety of GIS applications, for
example in the classification of vegetation and land use.

13. Remote Sensing Applications in Agriculture
1. Crop production Forecasting.
2. Assessment of crop damage and crop progress.
3. Horticulture cropping system (Crop planting systems) analysis.
4. Cropping culture identification.
5. Cropped area estimation.
6. Crop condition assessment and stress detection.
7. Identification of planting and harvesting dates.
8. Crop yield modeling and estimation.
9. Identification of pests and disease infestation.
10. Soil moisture estimation.
11. Irrigation monitoring and management.
12. Soil mapping.

14. 13. Monitoring of drought conditions.
14. Land cover and land degradation mapping.
15. Identification of problematic soils.
16. Crop nutrient deficiency detection.
17. Determination of water content of field crops.
18. Flood mapping and monitoring.
19. Collection of past and current weather data.
20. Water resources mapping.
21. Precision farming.
22. Climate change monitoring.
23. Soil management practices.
24. Air moisture estimation.
25. Crop health analysis.
26. Land mapping.

15. Advantages of Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing has come a long way in recent years and is an
impressive surveying technique with many different advantages:-
1. Remote sensing is a fast process and it can survey large and
inaccessible areas in a short time.
2. Once Remote Sensors have collected data, it can be used and
analyzed multiple times for different applications.
3. Remote sensing technology like LiDAR collects point cloud data, this
data can be quickly and easily analyzed with point cloud software.
4. Remote Sensors measure reflected light either natural sunlight or a
light pulse. This light is harmless to objects, vegetation, human and
environment.
5. Remote Sensing allows for easy collection of data over a variety of
scales and resolutions.

16. Disadvantages of Remote Sensing
Unfortunately, nothing is without limitations, so remote sensing
have some disadvantages:-
1. Remote sensing is an expensive method of analyzing in
smaller areas.
2. Remote Sensing gives you the option to collect data in a
range of scales and resolutions. But if you want to collect
high resolution data, it can be difficult to store.
3. Remote sensing requires the special kind of training to
analyze the images.
4. Before use, remote sensing instruments need to be calibrated
to achieve accurate measurements.

17. Indian Remote Sensing Program
 The satellite for Earth observation (SEO), now called Bhaskara was 1st
Indian Remote sensing Satellite.
 Construction of Indian satellite began 1973 by ISRO and launched by
a soviet launch vehicle from USSR in June 1979.
 Following the successfull demonstration flights of Bhaskara and
Bhaskara-2 satellites launched in 1979 and 1981, respectively, India
began to develop the indigenous Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)
satellite program to support the national economy in the areas of
Agriculture, water resources, forestry and ecology, geology, water
sheds, marine fisheries and coastal management.
 The sensors on Bhaskara satellite are two television camera’s three
microwave radiometers and a data collection platform.
References:- Some topics are prepared after studying government and educational online websites, articles and research
papers.
Mistakes may be found in my presentation, so your kindly suggestions are invited.