Remote Sensing, also called earth observation, refers to obtaining

information about objects or areas at the Earth’s surface without being in

direct contact with the object or area. It is a technique is a technique to observe
the earth surface or the atmosphere from out of space using satellites (space
borne) or from the air using aircrafts (airborne). Remote sensing uses a part or
several parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. It records the electromagnetic
energy reflected or emitted by the earth’s surface. The amount of radiation from
an object (called radiance) is influenced by both the properties of the object and
the radiation hitting the object (irradiance). The human eyes register the solar
light reflected by these objects and our brains interpret the colours, the grey
tones and intensity variations. In remote sensing various kinds of tools and
devices are used to make electromagnetic radiation outside this range from 400
to 700 nm visible to the human eye, especially the near infrared, middle-
infrared, thermal-infrared and microwaves.

Humans accomplish this task with aid of eyes or by the sense of smell or
hearing; so, remote sensing is day-today business for people. Reading the
newspaper, watching cars driving in front of you are all remote sensing
activities. Most sensing devices record information about an object by
measuring an object’s transmission of electromagnetic energy from reflecting
and radiating surfaces. Remote sensing

The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of all types of EM radiation.

Radiation is energy that travels and spreads out as it goes – the visible
light that comes from a lamp in your house and the radio waves that come
from a radio station are two types of electromagnetic radiation. The other types
of EM radiation that make up the electromagnetic spectrum
are microwaves, infrared light, ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma-rays.

Energy Sources of Electromagnetic Spectrum

Electromagnetic waves are radiated through space from some source. When the energy
encounters an object, even a very tiny one like a molecule of air, one of three reactions occurs.
The radiation will be (1) reflected off the object, (2) absorbed by the object, or (3)transmitted
through the object. The total amount of radiation that strikes an object is referred to as
the incident radiation, and is equal to:
 reflected radiation + absorbed radiation + transmitted radiation

In remote sensing, we are largely concerned with REFLECTED RADIATION. This is the
radiation that causes our eyes to see colors, causes infrared film to record vegetation, and allows
radar images of the earth to be created. The source of a vast majority of this reflected radiation is
the sun.

While the sun is the most obvious source of the electromagnetic energy measured in terrestrial
remote sensing, it is not the only energy source one might encounter. This is because all matter
at temperatures greater than absolute zero (0 Kelvin) continuously emits electromagnetic
radiation. Generally, the hotter an object is, the more it radiates, but all objects with even the
slightest sub-molecular motion radiate some energy. More on this idea follows.

Remote Sensing uses electromagnetic energy from both natural and man-made sources. Those
energy sources which occur naturally are often referred to as passive energy sources. Remote
sensing based on electromagnetic energy deriving from man-made sources is usually referred to
as active. Solar energy (including infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light, as well as x-rays and
gamma rays) and radiant heat (detectable as the far-infrared) are examples of passive energy
sources. Radar , microwave imaging and laser profilers are examples of active energy sources.

Principles of Electromagnetic Radiation

The main energy for remote sensing is solar energy, also known as electromagnetic
radiation. Photons, the basic unit of electromagnetic radiation, not only move as particles
but also as waves of different frequencies and wavelengths. When electromagnetic
radiation travels to the Earth and strikes the Earth’s surface, it is reflected, transmitted, or
absorbed (Fig. 2.1). For any given material or surface, the amount of solar radiation that
reflects, absorbs, or transmits varies with wavelength.