Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 3

Remote Sensing System: Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact

with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth (both on the surface, and in the atmosphere and oceans) by means of propagated signals (e.g. electromagnetic radiation emitted from aircraft or satellites). Remote sensing is the technology of observing the Earth from space. A weather image on the evening news is a familiar example. The Earth's surface and atmosphere naturally radiate energy in the form of microwaves. Our research company, Remote Sensing Systems, specializes in processing and analyzing microwave data collected by satellite microwave sensors. The microwave spectrum is rich with information about the atmosphere (temperature, humidity, clouds, and rain) and the Earth's surface (temperature, vegetation, roughness, and moisture). Since microwaves can penetrate clouds, surface characteristics can be measured from space even when clouds are present. Applications of this technology include deducing wind speed and direction over the world's oceans from surface roughness measurements, measuring rainfall, and monitoring variations in polar sea ice extent. The image above illustrates these applications in the Norwegian Sea area. As the population of our planet increases, it becomes vital that we better understand the physical processes that govern our climate and weather. In this pursuit, Remote Sensing Systems provides research-quality geophysical products from satellite data for studying climate variability and weather systems. These data products are revealing many secrets of our wondrous planet, Earth. The process of remote sensing involves the detection and measurement of radiation of different wavelengths reflected or emitted from distant objects or materials, by which they may be identified and categorized by class/type, substance, and spatial distribution. The background required for use of remote sensing tools may seem overwhelming at first. The decisive factor in the successful application of remote sensing data, however, need not be the technical sophistication of the user, but rather the suitability and precise use of the tool to obtain accurate and relevant data. A general grasp of the technical process that transforms electromagnetic energy into useful information can improve and expand the appropriate use of these tools. Nevertheless, depending on the application, social scientists wishing to work with remote sensing imagery would do well to partner with physical scientists with a deeper understanding of how the imagery represents physical processes on the ground. In the broadest sense, remote sensing refers to information gathered by measuring and interpreting signals. To use perhaps the simplest analogy, the human body is constantly involved in a variety of remote sensing tasks. Hearing and vision are two obvious examples, involving the gathering and interpretation of sound and light waves, both in limited ranges of the entire sound and light spectra.

Active and passive remote sensing are used to describe the way sensors gather data. To illustrate the two types of sensors, consider a snapshot camera, a sensor that captures electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum. Outdoors in full daylight, a camera is ordinarily used as a passive sensor in that it receives reflected visible light from its surroundings and uses optics, a shutter, and film to create a lasting image. At night, on the other hand, when there is inadequate light for most cameras to capture a useable image, the camera may employ a flash. The flash is emitted from the camera and bounces off the object to illuminate it, just as an active (or radar) sensor sends a burst of energy towards its target and then receives the reflected radiation. A key factor in the choice between passive and active sensor is the relative strength of the potential signal each system must measure. For a passive system, the source of the signal is ultimately the sun, which emits electromagnetic radiation at its highest intensity between the ultraviolet and infrared ranges (see discussion of electromagnetic energy in Section 3.3). In the radar wavelength ranges, however, sensors must provide a signal of sufficient intensity to travel to the earth, and return with enough strength to be distinguishable from the background "noise" from other sources. All remote sensing systems - active and passive - generally have the following seven elements (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Diagram of Elements of a Remote Sensing System. Source: Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Fundamentals of Remote Sensing.

Energy Source or Illumination (A) - A basic requirement for remote sensing is an energy source to illuminate or provides electromagnetic energy to the target of interest. For passive instruments, this is usually the sun; for so-called active instruments, the sensor itself emits an pulse of energy. Radiation and the Atmosphere (B) - As the energy travels from its source to the target, it will come in contact with and interact with the atmosphere it passes through. This interaction also takes place a second time as the energy travels from the target to the sensor. Inevitably there is a certain degree of atmospheric scattering of radiation (see Section 3.3). Interaction with the Target (C) - Once the energy makes its way to the target through the atmosphere, it interacts with the target depending on the properties of both the target and the radiation. Recording of Energy by the Sensor (D) - After the energy has been scattered by, or emitted from the target, a sensor (remote - not in contact with the target) collects and records the electromagnetic radiation. Transmission, Reception, and Processing (E) - The energy recorded by the sensor has to be transmitted, often in electronic form, to a receiving and processing station where the data are processed into an image (hardcopy or digital). Interpretation and Analysis (F) - The processed image is interpreted, visually or digitally/electronically, to extract information about the target illuminated. Application (G) - The final element of the remote sensing process is achieved by applying the information that has been extracted from the imagery about the target in order to better understand it, reveal some new information, or assist in solving a particular problem.

Вам также может понравиться