Remote Sensing and Image Processing Notes
1. Introduction to Remote Sensing
Remote sensing is the science of collecting information about the Earth's surface without direct
contact. It uses satellites, aircraft, or drones equipped with sensors to detect and record reflected or
emitted energy from objects on Earth. The collected data is converted into images and analyzed
using computers.
Sensors capture electromagnetic radiation such as visible light, infrared, or microwave energy.
Different surfaces such as water, soil, vegetation, and buildings reflect energy differently, allowing
scientists to identify and study them.
Remote sensing is widely used in agriculture, environmental monitoring, meteorology, disaster
management, and urban planning. It helps in observing large areas of Earth quickly and efficiently.
2. Introduction to Digital Image Processing in Remote Sensing
Digital Image Processing (DIP) refers to the use of computers to analyze and manipulate satellite or
aerial images. In remote sensing, images are stored in digital form as pixels. Each pixel represents
a small portion of the Earth's surface and contains numerical values representing reflected energy.
Image processing techniques help improve image quality and extract useful information. Important
operations include image enhancement, image restoration, classification, and feature extraction.
These processes allow scientists to identify land use patterns, vegetation, water bodies, and urban
development.
Digital image processing makes satellite data easier to interpret and is essential for environmental
studies and resource management.
3. Browsing Satellite Data in Remote Sensing
Browsing satellite data means searching and viewing available satellite images before downloading
or analyzing them. Large archives store satellite data collected over many years, and users can
access them through online portals or remote sensing software.
While browsing data, users can filter images based on location, date, satellite mission, resolution,
and cloud cover. This helps select the most suitable image for research or analysis.
Common platforms used for browsing satellite data include USGS Earth Explorer, NASA Earthdata,
Copernicus Open Access Hub, and Google Earth Engine.
4. Browsing Satellite Data in Bhoonidhi Website
Bhoonidhi is an Earth Observation data portal developed by the National Remote Sensing Centre
(NRSC) of ISRO. It allows users to search, browse, and download satellite data.
Steps to browse satellite data in Bhoonidhi: 1. Register on the Bhoonidhi website. 2. Login to the
portal. 3. Open the 'Browse and Order' option. 4. Select the Area of Interest on the map. 5. Apply
filters such as satellite name, sensor type, and date. 6. Preview available images. 7. Add required
data to cart and download.
The portal provides access to satellite data from Indian and international missions and is useful for
research and academic purposes.
5. Image Display in ERDAS IMAGINE 2014
ERDAS IMAGINE 2014 is a remote sensing software used for processing and analyzing satellite
images. Image display is the first step in analyzing remote sensing data.
Steps to display an image: 1. Open ERDAS IMAGINE software. 2. Open a viewer window. 3. Select
'Open Raster Layer' or 'Add Data'. 4. Choose the image file such as .img or .tif. 5. The image
appears in the viewer window. 6. Users can zoom, change band combinations, and adjust
brightness or contrast.
Image display helps users visually interpret satellite images and identify features such as rivers,
forests, and cities.
6. Layer Stack in ERDAS IMAGINE 2014
Layer stacking is the process of combining multiple single-band images into one multi-band image.
Satellite sensors capture data in different spectral bands, and stacking them allows analysis as a
single dataset.
Steps to perform layer stack: 1. Open ERDAS IMAGINE 2014. 2. Go to Raster > Spectral > Layer
Stack. 3. Select input band images. 4. Arrange them in the correct order. 5. Choose an output file
name and location. 6. Run the process.
The output is a multispectral image that can be used for false color composites, image
classification, and land use analysis.