MIRPUR UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (MUST), MIRPUR

DEPARMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

 Geo Informatics
NS-475

Lecture [12] : Processes in Remote Sensing Applications

Engr. Ali Sikandar

(Lecturer)

Date: November 15, 2020

 Processes in Remote Sensing Applications
The process involves an interaction
between incident radiation and the
targets of interest.
(A) Energy Source o Illumination
(B) Radiation and the Atmosphere
(C) Interaction with the Target
(D) Recording of Energy by the
Sensor
(E) Transmission, Reception, and
Processing
(F) Interpretation and Analysis
(G) Application
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 The Process
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 Target (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 Sensor (D) - 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.

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 The Process
5. Transmission, Reception, and Processing (E) - the energy recorded 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 and/or
digital).
6. Interpretation and Analysis (F) - the processed image is interpreted, visually
and/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

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 Illumination - Electromagnetic Radiation
The first requirement for remote
sensing is to have an energy source
to illuminate the target (unless the
sensed energy is being emitted by
the target). This energy is in the
form of electromagnetic radiation.
Typically, “remote sensing” is used
in connection with electromagnetic
techniques spanning the spectrum
from low frequency radio waves to
microwave, sub-mm, far infrared,
near infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-
ray and gamma-ray regions.

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Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Electromagnetic Spectrum

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 Electromagnetic Spectrum
Ranges from the shorter wavelengths (including gamma and x-rays) to the longer
wavelengths (including microwaves and broadcast radio waves). There are several regions
of the EM spectrum which are useful for remote sensing.

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Definitions

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 Ultraviolet Spectrum (UV)
UV portion of the spectrum has the
shortest wavelengths which are
practical for remote sensing.

This radiation is just beyond the violet

portion of the visible wavelengths,
hence its name.

Some Earth surface materials,

primarily rocks and minerals fluoresce
or emit visible light when illuminated
by UV radiation.

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Visible Spectrum

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 Visible Spectrum
• It is important to recognize how small the visible portion is
relative to the rest of the spectrum. There is a lot of radiation
around us which is "invisible" to our eyes, but can be detected by
other remote sensing instruments and used to our advantage.
• The visible wavelengths cover a range from approximately 0.4 to
0.7 µm. The longest visible wavelength is red and the shortest is
violet.
• This is the only portion of the spectrum we can associate with the
concept of colors.

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 Infrared Spectrum (IR)
IR region covers the wavelength
range from approximately 0.7
µm to 100 µm - more than 100
times as wide as the visible
portion!

The IR can be divided into two

categories based on their
radiation properties - the
reflected IR, and the emitted or
thermal IR.

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 Infrared Spectrum (IR)
• Radiation in the reflected IR region is used for remote sensing
purposes in ways very similar to radiation in the visible portion.
• The reflected IR covers wavelengths from approximately 0.7 µm
to 3.0 µm.
• The thermal IR region is quite different than the visible and
reflected IR portions, as this energy is essentially the radiation that
is emitted from the Earth's surface in the form of heat.
• The thermal IR covers wavelengths from approximately 3.0 µm
to 100 µm.

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 Microwave Spectrum
The portion of the spectrum of more
recent interest to remote sensing is the
microwave region from about 1 mm to 1
m.
This covers the longest wavelengths used
for remote sensing.
The shorter wavelengths have properties
similar to the thermal infrared region
while the longer wavelengths approach
the wavelengths used for radio
broadcast.

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 Interactions with Atmosphere
Most remote sensing is conducted above the Earth either within or above the atmosphere.
Before radiation used for remote sensing reaches the Earth's surface, it has to travel through
some distance of the Earth's atmosphere.
Particles and gases in the atmosphere can affect the incoming light and radiation. These
effects are caused by the mechanisms of scattering and absorption.

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THANKS