Remote Sensing Applications

(vii) Other Applications in Civil

Engineering

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Objectives
2

Applications of remote sensing in

Urban and regional planning

Identification of geothermal energy sources

Assessment of snow cover and water equivalent

Groundwater studies

Earthquake and Tsunami studies

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

1. Urban and Regional Planning

3
Regular monitoring of urban growth scenario is required for appropriate

planning and management

Rapid growth rate and unregulated growth of the urban areas are the major

challenges
Continuous monitoring and planning is required to meet the demands of the

growing urban areas

Detailed information about the land use /land distribution in and around the

urban area is required

Frequent temporal sampling is essential

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Urban and Regional Planning

4

Remote sensing in urban planning

Fine spatial resolution helps to capture fine details in the urban areas

Less than 1m spatial accuracy is possible

Example: IKONOS, IRS Cartosat

Frequent temporal sampling is possible

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D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Urban and Regional Planning

5

Potential applications of remote sensing (Venugopala Rao et al., 2010)

Perspectives plan/ development plan preparation

Infrastructure planning

Infrastructure network (Roads, Railways, and Settlements)

Hydrological features (River/Stream, lakes)
Present land use and regional level landscape
Urban sprawl, land use change and population growth, and updation of base maps
Master plan/ Regional plan proposals

Road alignment, road network and connectivity planning

Utility planning (Sewage treatment plant , garbage dump site selection, water works)
Growth centre locations

Environmental planning

Mapping of environmental parameters like green cover, surface water bodies and drainages
Urban land use indicators
Development of Urban Information System (UIS), Urban Indicator Observatory (UIO), Municipal
Information System (MIS) etc.

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D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Urban and Regional Planning

6
Landsat MSS image of 1973

Landsat ETM+ image of 1993

Satellite imageries of the San Jose area of 1973 and 1993

Comparison of the images shows the urban sprawl
Source: http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Sect4/Sect4_1.html
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D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Urban and Regional Planning

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Remote sensing data for 3-D modelling of the urban area

Uses stereo pairs of imageries for any area to create 3-dimentional models of cities

Three dimensional model of an urban area developed from DigitalGlobe images

Source: http://www.earthzine.org/2011/06/27/very-high-spatial-resolution-imageryfor-urban-applications/
Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

2. Geo-thermal Energy Resource Identification

8
Geo-thermal energy

Produced from underground reservoirs of steam or hot water

Reliable and sustainable source of energy

Essential condition for a good geo-thermal reservoir (Sabbins, 1973)

A large high-temperature heat source present at a relatively shallow depth

Permeable rocks to hold steam or water must be present near the heat source

There must be a natural recharge system to produce the steam or hot water

An impermeable zone above the reservoir to prevent the escape of steam to the surface

Identification of geo-thermal energy resources requires sub-surface information

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Geo-thermal Energy Resource Identification

9

Remote sensing application in locating Geo-thermal energy reservoirs

Many geo-thermal reservoirs have some surface expression

Example: increase surface temperature

Surface temperature anomalies can be monitored using thermal remote sensing

data

Geo-thermal reservoirs are generally associated with faults and fractures

Remote sensing techniques can be effectively used to identify the fault lines and
fractures

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

3. Assessment of Snow Cover and

Water Equivalent
10
Periodic snow cover depth and extent data are required for snow-melt runoff forecasting
Field-based surveys for periodic monitoring of snow covered areas (SCA) are generally

difficult due to the physical inaccessibility of the SCA

Advantages of remote sensing technique

Being operational from space-borne platforms, it helps to overcome the accessibility

issues

Capable of providing fine spatial resolution and frequent temporal sampling

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Snow Cover and Water Equivalent

11

Remote sensing techniques for SCA mapping

Optical remote sensing

Active microwave remote sensing

Passive microwave imaging

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Snow Cover and Water Equivalent

12
Optical remote sensing techniques for SCA mapping

Uses VIS and NIR bands.

The most commonly used approach for SCA mapping
Example: Landsat TM, MODIS

Finer spatial resolution of the images is the major advantage

Advantageous for mapping dry snow cover
Cloud cover commonly observed over SCA is generally one of the major hindrances in
optical remote sensing

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Snow Cover and Water Equivalent

13
Active microwave remote sensing techniques for SCA mapping
Example: Synthetic Aperture radar (SAR)
Backscattering of the microwave signals by SCA is different from that by the bare ground

Difference is maximum in case of wet snow and hence can be easily identified

Difference is insignificant in case of dry snow and hence is difficult to differentiate from bare
ground

Possible to collect data even under cloud cover

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Snow Cover and Water Equivalent

14
Passive microwave imaging techniques for SCA mapping

Microwave
signals reflected
from the surface

Brightness
temperature
(TB)

Snow depth,
Snow equivalent,
Snow water equivalent (SWE)

Example: Regression relationship between SWE and TB (Schmugge et al., 2002)

SWE

T ( f ) TB ( f 2 )
A B B 1
f 2 f1

TB = Brightness temperature
A and B are regression coefficients
f1 and f2 = Frequencies of the low and high
scattering microwave channels

Advantage over optical remote sensing: Cloud penetration capability

Advantages over radar remote sensing: Reduced cost and availability of global coverage
Major drawback: Poor spatial resolution

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

List of satellites/sensors most commonly used for snow mapping

(Nagesh Kumar and Reshmidevi, 2013)
15
Satellite / Sensor
Nimbus-7 / SMMR
AQUA / AMSR-E
Landsat TM

Spectral bands
Passive
microwave
Passive
microwave
VIS
NIR

Characteristics

Reference

Daily data at 25 km spatial resolution

Rango et al., 1989

Daily data at 12.5 km spatial resolution

Kelly et al., 2003

30 m spatial resolution, revisit period

16 days

Rosenthal and Dozier, 1996

NOAA / AVHRR

VIS, NIR

Daily data at 1 km spatial resolution

Akyrek and orman, 2002

Terra / MODIS

VIS, NIR

Daily data at 250 m spatial resolution

Rittger et al., 2013

8-100 m spatial resolution

Repeat cycle 24 days

Huang et al., 2011

Rott and Nagler, 1995
Matzler, 1987
Baghdadi et al., 1999

ERS-1 and 2,
Active
Radarsat / SAR and
microwave
Polarimetric SAR

Acronyms
AMSR-E: Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer - Earth Observing System
AVHRR: Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
ERS: European Remote Sensing Satellite
MODIS: Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
SMMR: Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Global daily snow cover map from NOAA

16

Spatial resolution : 4km

Remote sensing data used

IR and microwave data from

multiple satellites

NOAAs GOES Imager

Polar Orbiting
Environmental Satellites
(POES) AVHRR

US Air Force DMSP/SSMI

EUMETSAT MSG/SEVIRI
sensors

Remote Sensing: M8L7

Map of snow depth over United States on 9 th March, 2013, from NOAA
(Source: http://www.eldoradocountyweather.com/climate/world-maps/worldsnow-ice-cover.html)

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

4. Groundwater Studies
17

Role of remote sensing in groundwater studies

Estimation of the geomorphologic parameters essential for the groundwater

modeling

Estimation of the groundwater potential

Estimation of the groundwater storage

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Groundwater Studies
18

Estimation of geomorphologic parameters

Geological and surface features that are closely associated with the occurrence of
groundwater.
Example: Dykes, lineaments, changes in lithology, terrain characteristics etc.
Optical sensors have been commonly used

Water levels in the lakes and rivers, which is an essential input for the
groundwater modeling.
Terrain height
With the use of modern techniques like radar interferometry and Lidar altimetry, fine resolution
DEM is now available

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Estimation of geomorphologic parameters using remote sensing

19

Great Dyke in Zimbabwe as seen in the

satellite image
Source:
http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Sect17/
Sect17_3.html

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Estimation of geomorphologic parameters using remote sensing

20

Landsat-1 FCC image of

central California coast
with the geologic structures map
superimposed over it
Source:
https://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/
rst/Sect2/Sect2_8.html
Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Groundwater Studies
21

Estimation of groundwater potential

Groundwater potential zone identification: A multi-criteria evaluation problem

Thematic layers of hydro-geological parameters are integrated in a GIS environment

to identify the groundwater potential

Thematic layers generated using remote sensing data are used

Lithology, landforms, lineaments and surface water bodies etc.

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Groundwater potential zone identification

22

Identification of potential groundwater recharge zones

using remote sensing data
(Images in the figure are taken from Rao, 2008
Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Groundwater Studies
23

Estimation of groundwater storage

Direct estimation of groundwater storage using optical or microwave remote sensing
data is difficult due to poor ground penetration capability
Remote sensing of the ground water storage is based on the estimation of terrestrial
water storage (TWS)
TWS is estimated using data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
(GRACE) satellites of NASA, along with the ground-based observations.

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)

24
Joint project between NASA and Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)

Primary objective : Measure the Earths gravity field and its time variability from space

Operational since 2002

2 satellites separated by about 220 km, on the same orbit at 500 km above the Earth

Measures

Position and velocity of the satellites

Using onboard GPS antenna

Exact separation between the two satellites

Using a K-band microwave link between the satellites

These measurements are related to

Variations in the continental hydrological cycle and

Changes in the glacier ice mass

Remote Sensing: M8L7

(Source:
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/
01/water-water-not-everywhere/)

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

GRACE
25
Change in TWS from GRACE satellite observation (Rodell et al., 2009)

GRACE
satellite observations

Temporal variation in the

gravity field

Changes in the
TWS

Groundwater storage using GRACE TWS data and in-situ soil moisture measurement

(Yeh et al., 2006)

TWS SM GW nD

ds
dh
Sy
dt
dt

n = soil porosity
D = root zone depth
s = soil relative saturation
t

= time period

Sy = specific yield
h
Remote Sensing: M8L7

= groundwater level.
D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

GRACE
26

Groundwater storage map of the United States derived from the GRACE satellite data
Source: http://droughtdev.unl.edu/MonitoringTools/NASAGRACEDataAssimilation.aspx
Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

5. Earthquake and Tsunami Studies

27
Remote sensing techniques in assessing the damage caused during natural calamities
Very high resolution remote sensing data can be used to identify

Structural damage
Basic concept (DellAcqua and Gamba, 2012)
Manmade structures possess more or less regular shape and pattern.
Any structural damage generally causes visible changes to this shape

Extent of affected areas

Comparison of images obtained before and after the earthquake helps to identify the affected
areas and the spatial extent of the damage

Inundated areas and damage caused due to tsunami

Optical, thermal and radar images are used

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Earthquake and Tsunami Studies

28

Before tsunami

After tsunami

Quickbird images of the Banda Aceh area in Sumatra before and after
the December 2004 tsunami
Source: http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Sect3/Sect3_7.html

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Conclusion
29

Satellite remote sensing techniques finds a wide range of

applications in civil engineering

Remote Sensing: M8L7

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc

Bibliography / Further reading

1.

Akyrek Z, orman A. 2002. Monitoring snow-covered areas Hydrolo. Sci. J., 47 (2), pp 243-252.

2.

Baghdadi N, et al. 1999. Accuracy of wet snow mapping Int. J. Remote Sens., 20 (10), pp: 2049-2068.

3.

DellAcqua F, Gamba P. 2012. Remote sensing & earthquake

30 damage assessmentProc.IEEE,100(10),2876-2890.

4.

Huang L, et al. 2011. Classification and snow line detection Remote Sens. Environ., 115, pp 1721-1732.

5.

Kelly RE, et al. 2003. A prototype AMSR-E algorithm IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 41 (2). 230-242.

6.

Krishnamurthy J, et al. 2000. Groundwater resources developmentInt.J.Appl.Earth Obs.Geoinform.,2(3-4),204-215.

7.

Krishnamurthy J, et al. 1996. Approach to demarcate ground water potential Int.J.Remote Sens.,17(10),1867-1884.

8.

Matzler C. 1987. Applications of the interaction of microwaves Remote Sens.Rev., 2, pp: 259-387.

9.

Nagesh Kumar D, Reshmidevi TV .2013. Remote sensing applications J. Indian Inst. Sci., 93(2), 163-188.

10. Rai B, et al. 2005. Identification of groundwater prospective zones J. Earth System Sci., 114 (5), 515-522.
11. Rango A, et al. 1989. Average areal water equivalent IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens,2(6), 740-745.
12. Rao, P.J ( 2008) Sustainable development of ground water potential zones in and around Madhurawada dome in

Visakhapatnam A GIS approach http://cssteap.org/pilote_project/rs_gis/twelfth_course/rao/rao_text.htm

13. Rittger K, et al. 2013. Assessment of methods for mapping snow cover Adv. Water. Resour., 51, 367-380.
14. Rodell M, et al. 2009. Satellite-based estimates of groundwater depletion in India Nature, 460, pp 999-1002.
15. Rosenthal W, Dozier J. 1996. Automated mapping of montane snow cover Water Resour. Res., 32 (1), 115-130.
16. Rott E, Nagler T (1995). Monitoring temporal dynamics of snowmelt In Proc. IGARSS95, Firenze (Italy), 747-1749.
17. Sabbins Jr. F. F., 1978. Remote Sensing Principles and Interpretation. W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco.
18. Schmugge TJ, et al. 2002. Remote sensing in hydrology Adv. Water Resour., 25, pp 13671385.
19. Stramondo S. (2013) Tohoku-Oki earthquake: Scientific outcomes IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens.Lett.,10(4),895-897.
20. Venugopala Rao K et al. 2010. Urban and Regional Planning In Remote Sensing Applications (Roy PS, Dwivedi RS,

Vijayan D Eds.), National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad.

21. Yeh
PJ-F Sensing:
et al. 2006.M8L7
Remote sensing of groundwater storage changes Water Resour.D.
Res.,
42 (W12203).
Nagesh
Kumar, IISc
Remote

Thank You

Remote Sensing: M8L7

31

D. Nagesh Kumar, IISc