Remote Sensing of the Environment

Ideal for a University level, one-semester Introductory remote sensing course as well as an Introductory Airphoto Interpretation course. This book introduces the fundamental principles of remote sensing from an earth resource perspective. It reviews the nature of electromagnetic radiation and how the reflected or emitted energy in the visible, near-infrared, middle-infrared, thermal infrared, and microwave portions of the spectrum can be collected by a variety of sensor systems and analyzed. Emphasis in this book is placed on manual, visual image analysis of the remote sensor data using introductory photogrammetric techniques. This book is a companion volume to Dr. Jensen's widely-adopted Introductory Digital Image Processing (Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2nd Edition, 1996). Documents the history of photography and other remote sensing detectors, and aerial platforms (balloon, kite, aircraft, satellite) so that the reader can appreciate the great strides that have taken place in sub-orbital and orbital remote sensing science. a multidisciplinary approach places emphasis on how to remotely sense fundamental biophysical characteristics of the terrain such as precise location (x,y), height-depth (z), temperature, moisture content, chlorophyll content, surface roughness, etc., for vegetation, soils, minerals, water, ice and the atmosphere. Enables readers from many disciplines such as geography, agriculture, forestry, marine science, and geology to adapt the remote sensing principles and technology to their own application. Provides case studies in most chapters that demonstrate the proper application of remote sensing principles and technology. Highlights practical applications of principles taught in the book. Includes hundreds of specially designed illustrations that communicate principles in an easily understood manner. The large 8 1/2 x 11 in. format with 32 pages of color facilitates image interpretation.