By

Joy Ebijuoworih
Dept. of Remote Sensing and
Geoscience Information System, FUTA
E-mail: ejebijuoworih@futa.edu.ng
Acknowledgement: Dr. Akinola Komolafe

Dept. of Remote Sensing & Geoscience Information Systems, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
 Course Content
❑ Overview of remote sensing
➢ Some definitions
➢ Concepts of remote sensing
➢ Remote sensing sensors
➢ Remote sensing platforms
➢ Applications of Remote Sensing

❑ History and evolution of remote sensing.

❑ Principles and characteristics of Electromagnetic Radiation. Laws of

radiation (Stefan's Law, Kirchoff's Law. Wien's Law, Planck's Law),
Sources and propagation of electromagnetic radiation

❑ The Electromagnetic Spectrum: basic principles and characteristics

❑ Energy Interaction with matter (atmosphere and targets). Spectral

reflectance curves. Characteristics of Images.
 List of books
❖ T.M. Lillesand, R.W. Kiefer, J.W. Chipman, 2003: Remote Sensing and image
interpretation, 5th ed., Wiley, 784 p. ISBN: 0471152277
Probably the most popular reference books for introductory RS. You may consider buying it.

❖ F.F. Sabins, 1996: Remote Sensing: Principles and Interpretation, W H Freeman, 432
p ISBN 0716724421
Still a very good book for reference in Earth Science Image interpretation. The emphasis is on the
interpretation and application of the images, and there is a new chapter on land use, land cover and
geographic information systems.

❖ R. P. Gupta, 2002: Remote Sensing Geology, Springer, 675 p. ISBN: 3540431853

This book goes a bit deeper in processing steps than Lillesand. Many examples of remote sensing
applications in different earth science fields are given.

❖ Manual of Remote Sensing, 1998, 3rd ed., ASPRS consisting of the following four
books: - Earth observing platforms and sensors : CD-ROM version 1.0 - Principles
and applications of imaging radar - Remote sensing for the earth sciences - Remote
sensing for natural resourcemanagement and environmental monitoring.
Very good reference book series. Especially volume 3 can answer more advanced questions on RS in an Earth
Science context.

❖ The Remote Sensing Tutorial: http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/ (last updated: 2005 July 1).
This is a well illustrated, up-to-date online tutorial with lots of clear illustrations. If you have RS related
questions, try this website.
 List of books
❖ N. Kerle, L.L.F. Janssen, G.C. Huurneman (eds.), 2004: Principles of Remote
Sensing - An introductory textbook, 3rd ed., ITC, 250 p. ISBN 90-6164-227-2
❖ Allum, J.A.E. Photogeology and Regional Mapping Pergamon Press,
Oxford.
❖ Kennie, T.J.M. and Matthews, M.C. (Eds.). Remote Sensingin Civil
Engineering. Surrey University Press, London.
❖ S.A. Drury, 2004: Image interpretation in Geology , 3rd ed. Routledge, 304
p. ISBN: 0748764992
❖ FAO Remote Sensing Centre. Radar Imagery: Theory an Interpretation.
Lecture Notes.
 Assessments
Assignments : 10marks
Tests: 20marks
Projects/presentation : 10marks
Exams: 60marks
Total : 100marks

Regular Attendance is very

important!
 Overview of Remote Sensing
As you view the screen of your computer
monitor, you are actively engaged in
remote sensing.

-A physical quantity (light) emanates

from that screen, whose imaging
electronics provides a source of radiation

- The radiated light passes over a distance,

and thus is "remote" to some extent, until
it encounters and is captured by a sensor
(your eyes).

-Each eye sends a signal to a processor

(your brain) which records the data and
interprets this into information
 Overview of Remote Sensing
What are the main remote sensors in human
body
 Overview of Remote Sensing
What are the main remote sensors commonly
used in our day-to-day activities
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Some Definitions

❖ 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 that is not in contact with the object, area, or phenomenon under
investigation. (Lillesandand Kiefer, 1994).

❖ Remote Sensing is the science or the technique of deriving information

about objects at the Earth surface from images using (parts of) the
electromagnetic spectrum.
➢ Measuring electromagnetic energy (light), reflected or emitted
➢ Non-destructive method, no physical contact
➢ Surveying the spatial distribution of objects
➢ Determining properties of objects

❖ Remote Sensing is the science of acquiring, processing and interpreting

images that record the interaction between electromagnetic energy and
matter. (Sabins, 1996)
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Definition contd.
Remote Sensing is the instrumentation, techniques and methods to
observe the Earth’s surface at a distance and to interpret the images or
numerical values obtained in order to acquire meaningful information of
particular objects on Earth (Buiten and Cleavers, 1993).

Several Definitions but the same story!

Importantly: Data characteristics of Earth’s surface are acquired by a

device (sensor) that is not in contact with the objects measured.

Characteristic measured: Reflected or emitted electromagnetic energy

There is a medium of transmission involved i.e. Earth’s

Atmosphere.
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Concept of remote sensing
In Remote Sensing, EM radiation reflected or scattered from an object (earth
surface) is being measured and translated into information about object or
processes related to the object.

The following components/elements are very important in remote sensing:

A. The source of the EM radiance
B. The path through the atmosphere
C. The interaction with the object
D. The recording of the radiation by a
sensor
E. Transmission, reception and
pre(processing) of the recorded
radiance
F. Interpretation and analysis of the
remote sensing data
G. Application.
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Concept of remote sensing contd.
1. Energy Source
The primary requirement for remote sensing is to have an energy service,
which provides electromagnetic energy to the target of interest.
2. Radiation and the Atmosphere
The energy is required to illuminate the target. This energy is in the form
of Electromagnetic radiation
3. Interaction with the target
The interaction of Electromagnetic radiation with the target is important
to remote sensing for two main reasons. First, information carried
Electromagnetic radiation reflected by the earth’s surface is modified
while traversing through the atmosphere. Second, the interaction of
Electromagnetic radiation with the atmosphere can be used to obtain
useful information about the atmosphere itself.
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Concept of remote sensing contd.
4. Recording of energy by the sensor
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

The energy recorded by the sensor has to be transmitted in electronic form, to a
receiving and processing station where the data processed into an image.
6. Interpretation and Analysis
Information about the objects, area or phenomenon is extracted from the
image using various methods of analyses. The image is interpreted visually or
digitally as computer files to be combined with other layers of information in
GIS.
7. Application
The final products / information is presented to the End- users for decision
making process.
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remotely sensed
Image

Dehradun, India
Landsat ETM
RGB:453
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remotely sensed
Image

Bandung, Indonesia
ASTER R G B : 3N 2 1
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remotely sensed
Image

Yellow River delta, China

Landsat ETM
RGB:453
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remote sensing sensors
There are several broad categories of sensors
types such as:
❖ passive vs. active: based on their source of
illumination; and
❖ imaging vs. non-imaging based on their
form of data generated
Passive sensors measure light reflected or
emitted naturally from surfaces and objects.
Such sensor merely observe and depends
primarily on solar energy as the ultimate
radiation source illuminating surfaces and
objects.
Active sensors on the other hand first emit
energy (supplied by their own energy source)
and then measure the return of that energy
after it has interacted with a surface.
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remote sensing sensors
Passive sensors : collect electromagnetic radiation in the visible and
infra-red part of the spectrum:
- Photographs
-Multispectral Sensor: Landsat, ASTER, SPOT, IRS
satellites, Nigeria- Sat- 1, Nigeria Sat- 2 etc
-Hyperspectral Sensor: Hyperion, MERIS, Hymap

Active sensors : collect electromagnetic radiation mostly from the

microwave portion of the spectrum
- Air-borne radar
- Space borne radar: ERS 1 / 2, Radarsat
-Lidar (laser scanner)

Note: Detail of various sensors in remote sensing will be dealt with in

advance course: RSG 303
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing Platforms
Platforms refer to the
vehicles on which the
sensors are mounted.
The platform on
which a particular
sensor is housed
determines a number
of attributes, which
may dictate the use of
particular sensors.
There are three broad
categories of remote
sensing platforms:
ground based,
airborne, and
spaceborne /
satellite.
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing Platforms
Ground based - A wide variety of ground-based platforms are used
in remote sensing. Some of the more common ones are handheld
devices, tripods, towers and cranes. sensors that are ground-based
are often used to measure the quantity and quality of light coming
from the sun or for close range characterization of objects. For
example, to study properties of a single plant or a small patch of
grass, it would make sense to use a ground-based sensor.

Airborne platforms were the sole non-ground-based platforms for

early remote sensing work before the satellites came to play. The
first aerial images were acquired with a camera carried aloft by a
balloon in 1859. Balloons are rarely used today because they are
not very stable and the course of flight is not always predictable,
although small balloons carrying expendable probes are still used
for some meteorological research. At present, drones are the most
common airborne platform, others include, airplane, helicopter, etc
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Remote Sensing Platforms
Satellite - The most stable
platform aloft is a satellite,
which is spaceborne. The
first remote sensing satellite
was launched in 1960 for
meteorology purposes. Now,
over a hundred remote
sensing satellites have been
launched and more are being
launched every year. The
Space Shuttle is a unique
spacecraft that functions as a
remote sensing satellite and
can be reused for a number
of missions.
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Importance of remote sensing

❖ Systematic data collection; Reduces manual

field work dramatically
❖ Large amounts of data needed, and remote
sensing can provide it
❖ Allows for the collection of much more data in a
shorter amount of time which leads to
increased land coverage
❖ Multipurpose information ; Information about
three dimensions of real objects
❖ Repeatability
❖ Global coverage
❖ The only solution sometimes for the otherwise
inaccessible areas ; allows retrieval of data for
regions difficult or impossible to reach:
• Open ocean
• Hazardous terrain (high mountains, extreme
weather areas, etc.)
• Ocean depths
• Atmosphere
 Overview of Remote Sensing
Applications of Remote Sensing