Types of Remote Sensing:

Depending on the source of electromagnetic energy, remote sensing

can be classified as passive or active remote sensing.

Passive Remote Sensing:

In passive remote sensing, source of energy is that naturally available
such as the Sun.

Most of the remote sensing systems work in passive mode using solar
energy as the source of EMR.

Solar energy reflected by the targets at specific wavelength bands are

recorded using sensors onboard air-borne or space borne platforms.

In order to ensure ample signal strength received at the sensor,

wavelength/energy bands capable of traversing through the
atmosphere, without significant loss through atmospheric
interactions, are generally used in remote sensing.

Any object which is at a temperature above 0° K (Kelvin) emits some

radiation, which is approximately proportional to the fourth power
of the temperature of the object.

Thus, the Earth also emits some radiation since its ambient
temperature is about 300° K.

Passive sensors can also be used to measure the Earth’s radiance,

but they are not very popular as the energy content is very low.

Active Remote Sensing:

In the active remote sensing, energy is generated and sent from the
remote sensing platform towards the targets.

The energy reflected back from the targets are recorded using sensors
onboard the remote sensing platform.
Most of the microwave remote sensing is done through active remote
sensing,

In other words, passive remote sensing is to take a picture with an

ordinary camera whereas, active remote sensing is analogous to
taking a picture with camera having built-in flash.

System System

Figure 1: Schematic representation of passive and active remote

SenSINE.

Application and importance of Remote Sensing:

A big number of satellite systems provide satellite imagery for
remote sensing applications in different disciplines.

These images are available from nationally and internationally

operating space agencies, such as NASA, NOAA, ESA, CNES,
NASDA, ISRO or their vending agencies (e.g., USGS, Spot Image,
Space Imaging, Eurimage, DigitalGlobe, etc.).
The data cost still differs greatly at present due to an unstable market.

For global applications, use low-cost, low-resolution imagery, which

is easily obtainable.

Regional and local applications requiring higher resolutions rely on

substantial imagery purchases.

Therefore, remote sensing competes with other data acquisition

methods concerning obtainable quality, cost and evaluation effort
and time.

Project-based research applications were easiest to be realized.

The present focus of applications is to concentrate on organized data

acquisition and analysis of programs depending on the socio-
economic priorities.

The major application areas of remote sensing:

Meteorological and climatological Mapping

e Ozone mapping
Cloud mapping
Rainfall mapping
Wind pattern mapping
Weather prediction
Climate studies

Oceanography
e Ocean Currents mapping
Ocean Productivity mapping
Bathymetry (Underwater depth)
Sea ice mapping

Environment
e Hazardous waste mapping
e Landfill siting
 Other suitability mapping
Arr pollution mapping
Oil spills mapping, etc.

Non-renewable resources
Mineral Exploration and Mapping
Oil Exploration

Renewable resources
Land cover-land use mapping
Vegetation mapping

Natural Hazards
Earthquakes zones mapping
Landslides mapping
Land subsidence mapping
Volcanoes mapping
Floods mapping
Forest and grass fire mapping