REMOTE SENSING
Introduction:-
Remote sensing is the science and art of
obtaining information of 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.
Example:-
Our eyes are acting as sensors that respond to
thelight reflected from this page.
The data our eyes acquire are impulses
corresponds to the amount of light reflected from
the dark and light areas on the page.
These data are analyzed or interpreted in our
mental computer to enable us to explain the dark
areas on the page as collection of letters forming
words.
Various sensors are used to collect the data from
remote places and the data are analyzed to obtain
information about the objects, areas or phenomena
being investigated.
The remotely collected data can be of many forms
including variations in force distributions, acoustic
wave distributions, Electromagnetic Spectrum.
The Electromagnetic energy sensors that are
currently being operated from airborne and space-
borne platforms are useful in mapping and
monitoring earth resources.
Generalised Process in E.M., Remote Sensing:-
The two basic Processes involved are
[Link] Acquisition.
[Link] Analysis.
Data Acquisition Processes:-
[Link] sources.
[Link] of energy through atmosphere.
[Link] interactions with earth surface features.
[Link] Transmission of energy through atmosphere.
[Link]-borne/ Space-borne sensors.
[Link] data in pictorial/Digital form.
“Sensors are used to record variation in the way
earth surface features reflect and emit Electro
Magnetic Energy”
Data Analysis Processes:-
[Link] the data using various viewing and
interpretation devices to analyze pictorial data / a
computer to analyze digital sensor data.
Reference Data – To assist in the data
analysis.
[Link] compilation–Hard copy (or) computer
files.
[Link] presented to user (Decision-making
Process.
Energy Sources & Radiating Principles :
Visible light – One of many forms of
Electromagnetic Energy.
Radio waves,Uv rays & X-rays,Heat – Other forms.
All these (Energy) are inherently similar and radiates
in accordance with basic ware theory.
Visible Light ------ One form of electromagnetic
Energy.
Wave Theory ------ Electromagnetic energy travels in a
harmonic, sinusoidal fashion at the velocity of light “C”
Waves obey the general equation c = v /ƛ
In R.S. the electromagnetic waves are categorize by
their wavelength location within their electromagnetic
spectrum
There is no clear-cut dividing line between one nominal
spectral region and the next – Depends sensing each
type of radiation. (UV & W …etc)
Visible Region --- 0.4 to 0.7 ( Blue , Green & Red )
Blue Band : 0.4 to 0.5
Green Band : 0.5 to 0.6
Red Band :0.6 to 0.7
InfraRed Region --- 0.7 to 14
Near IR : 0.7 to 1.3
Mid IR : 1.3 to 3
Thermal IR : 3 to 14
Most common RS Systems operate in one or several of
the visible,IR, or microwave (1mm to 1m) portions of
the spectrum.
Particle Theory ---- The electromagnetic radiation is
composed of many discrete units called photons or
quanta.
The energy of a quantum,Q = hv
Q = hc / ƛ ( Relation bet. Wave & Q uantum model of
electromagnetic radiation ,EMR.
The longer the wavelength involved ,the lower its
energy content. ( Difficult to sense w emission from
terrain features )
Sun is the most obvious source of EMR.
All matter at temperatures above absolute zero(0 K or –
273 C) continuously emits EMR
Terrestrial objects are also sources of radiation.
Energy radiated by an object is a function of surface
temperature of that object.
Stefan-Boltzmann Law , M = ϭ T^4
M – Total radiant exitance from the surface of
the material
ϭ -Boltzmann Constant, 5.6697 * 10
T – Absolute Temp. (K) of the emitting material.
Energy interactions in the atmosphere
All variation detected by remote sensors passes
through some distance or path length of atmosphere.
Space Photography – waves passes through the full
thickness of the earth’s atmosphere twice on it’s
journey from source to sensor.
The variations in the atmosphere path lengths have an
impact on the intensity and spectral composition of
radiation available to any sensing system.
These effects are caused by atmospheric scattering
and atmospheric absorption.
Atmospheric Scattering:
Atmospheric scattering is the unpredictable
diffusion of radiation by particles in the atmosphere.
Rayleigh scatter – When radiation interacts with
atmospheric molecules and other tiny particles that are
much smaller in diameter than the wavelength of the
interacting radiation.
The effect of Rayleigh scatter is inversely proportional to
the fourth power of wavelength.
So, there is a much stronger tendency for short
wavelengths to be scattered than long wavelengths.
Example:-
Sky – Manifestation of Rayleigh scatter.
Black in colour – in the absence of scatter
Blue in colour - when the atmosphere scatters the shorter
(blue) wavelength move dominantly than the other visible
wavelengths.
At sunrise and sunset the sun’s rays travel through a
longer atmospheric path length.
With the longer path, the scatter and absorption of short
wavelengths is so complete – we see only the less
scattered, longer wavelengths of orange and red.
Mie scatter – when atmospheric particles diameter
essentially equal the wavelengths of the energy being
sensed.
Water vapour and dust are major causes of Mie
scatter.
Mie scatter tends to influence longer wavelengths
compared to Rayleigh scatter.
Non selective scatter:
When the diameters of the particles causing
scatter are much larger than the wavelengths of
the energy being sensed (water droplets cause
such scatter).
Water droplets have a diameter in the range 5 to
100 Micro meter and scatter all visible and Near
to Mid IR wavelengths about equally i.e., equal
quantities of blue, green and red light are
scattered.
Example :- Fog and Clouds appear white.