This document provides an overview of remote sensing including its history, sensors, platforms, applications, software, and use in Pakistan. Remote sensing allows obtaining information about objects through analysis of data collected by instruments without physical contact. It uses electromagnetic radiation as an information carrier. Common sensors are active like LIDAR and RADAR, or passive. Platforms include ground, airborne, and spaceborne. Applications span meteorology, oceanography, geology, agriculture, and more. Popular software for analysis includes ERDAS, ENVI, and ESRI. Pakistan is developing its own remote sensing satellite called PRSS and using the technology to improve flood management.

1. By:
Muhammad Sajjad
PH# 03346544625

2. Contents
 Remote Sensing?
 History
 Remote Sensing Sensors
 Active Remote Sensing Sensors
 Passive Remote Sensing Sensors
 Platforms used for Remote Sensing
 Ground Based
 Airborne
 Space borne
 Applications of Remote sensing
 Software used for analyses
 Remote Sensing in Pakistan

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. History
 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. One of the earlier camera
 The term "remote sensing," first used in
the United States in the 1950s by Ms.
Evelyn Pruitt of the U.S.

5. Remote Sensing Sensors
 Active Remote Sensors
These provide their own energy source for illumination. The sensor
emits radiation which is directed toward the target to be investigated. The
radiation reflected from that target is detected and measured by the
sensor.
Examples:
 LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging)
 RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging)
 Passive Remote Sensors
Remote sensing systems which measure energy that is naturally
available are called passive sensors.
Examples :
 Passive microwave radiometer that detects naturally emitted microwave energy.
 Radiometers that measure reflected (or backscattered) sun light from the atmosphere and ocean.

6. Platforms used for Remote
Sensing
 Ground-based platforms: ground, vehicles and/or towers
=> up to 50 m
 Airborne platforms: airplanes, helicopters, high-altitude
aircrafts, balloons => up to 50 km
 Space borne: rockets, satellites, shuttle => from about 100
km to 36000 km
 Space shuttle: 250-300 km
 Space station: 300-400 km
 Low-level satellites: 700-1500 km
 High-level satellites: about 36000 km

7. 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
 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

8. Software used for analyses
 Remote Sensing data is processed and analyzed with computer software,
known as a remote sensing application.
 According to an NOAA Sponsored Research by Global Marketing
Insights, Including the most used applications among Asian academic
groups involved in remote sensing are as follows:
 ERDAS 36%
 ESRI 30%
 ITT Visual Information Solutions ENVI 17%
 MapInfo 17%
 Among Western Academic respondents as follows
 ESRI 39%
 ERDAS IMAGINE 27%
 MapInfo 9%
 Autodesk 7%
 I TT Visual Information Solutions ENVI 17%.

9. Remote Sensing in Pakistan
 The Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS) or RSSS is being
developed as a dual purpose Earth observational and optical satellite
which was scheduled to launch by the end year of 2011 for the
replacement of BADR-II satellite. The satellite is manufactured
indigenously in Lahore SUPARCO center. The satellite is equipped
with very high resolution radio meter and a SAR.(Synthetic Aperture
RADAR)
 Remote-sensing-based climate and flood warning technology is to
upgrade flood management of Pakistan. The project will help build
the capacity of Pakistan Meteorological Department and other
agencies responsible for flood forecasting, early warning and
management at the national, provincial and district levels. UNESCO,
with the financial assistance of Japan, is introducing the system at a
cost of 3.5 million dollar. The system is expected to be completed by
2013.

10. Pakistan Remote Sensing
Satellite (PRSS)
Operator
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
Major contractors
SUPARCO, Pakistan
Mission type
Oceanography
Weather satellite
Earth observation satellite
Geographic information system
constellation of Optical
Global navigation satellite system
Optical satellite system

11. References
 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/RemoteSensing
 http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/rsss.asp
 http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~geog-p/geog/RemoteSensing/
 http://www.crisp.nus.edu.sg/~research/tutorial/intro.htm
 http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geography-
boundary/remote-sensing/fundamentals/1212
 http://www.hydrology.nl/ihpnews/300-pakistan-remote-
sensing-to-forecast-floods.html