What is remote sensing?

What is remote sensing?

1. Measurement

   • Spatial and Spectral Context
   • quantitative
   • measures changes in the Earth's surface through time
   • The measurement of reflected or emitted radioactive energy from the Earth’s surface, using spatially separated opto-mechanical devices located on ground-based, airborne or space-borne platforms”

2. Use

   • Broader context uses of RS
     • human vision
     • optical measurements
     • sonar
     • RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging)
     • Astronomical imagery
     • Medical imaging (most of)
   • Underpins a lot of environmental science
     • Informs environmental decision making
   • provides vital communication platform
     • e.g. communicating climate change

3. a multi-scale scientific discipline