Synopses & Reviews
The image to the right shows a volcanic landscape in central Africa, including parts of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). This image was obtained from the SIR-C multi-wavelength radar remote sensing system, operated on the space shuttle Endeavor in 1994. SIR-C monitors the earth's surface using wave-lengths of energy that are much longer than the visible light seen by the human eye; thus, the hues in this "false color" radar image have little to no relationship to what would be seen in ordinary visible light. The volcano at top center of the image is Karisimba, 4500 m high. The green patch on the lower slopes of Karisimba volcano, to the right of its peak, is an area of bamboo forest-one of the world's few remaining habitats for mountain gorillas. Only some 600-700 mountain gorillas still remain on earth. Because the SIR-C radar is virtually unaffected by weather conditions, it is an ideal tool for capturing images over the cloudy and misty volcanic areas where mountain gorillas live. Nyiragongo volcano (3465 m elevation) dominates the lower portion of the image some of the lava flows that surround it have a distinctive purple appearance in this image. As shown here, remote sensing in wavelengths of energy outside the range of visible light can often reveal aspects of our environment that complement what can be detected by the unaided eye. (This image covers a 24 km by 60 km area.) The global image (inset, below) is a composite view of vegetation cover on land and chlorophyll concentration in the oceans. This image was derived from data collected by the SeaWiFS global ocean color monitoring mission. Wide field-of-view sensors such as SeaWiFS permit continuous, long-term monitoring of the environment on a global scale, providing an important contribution to our understanding of the earth system as a single, integrated whole.
Review
"As a reference book for those using remote sensing, it is invaluable and I have yet to find a book that can teach me more." (Journal Of Sedimentary Research, June 2007)
Review
"It remains an excellent book and to have it updated is very valuable...It is nice to see a good book being updated." (Int Journal of Remote Sensing, Vol 21/16, 2000)
Synopsis
Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation presents the principles on which remote sensing is used, and explores the interplay between remote sensing and GIS. It describes the tools of photography, airphoto interpretation processes, and principles of acquiring and interpreting data collected by non-photographic sensors. Extensively illustrated, this invaluable reference provides a balance between classical visual image interpretation and digital image processing techniques. It spotlights the interaction among related areas of remote sensing, GIS, GPS, digital image processing, and environmental modeling. Coverage is presented in a way that practitioners in virtually any field can use the information.
Synopsis
From recent developments in digital image processing to the next generation of satellite systems, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of remote sensing and image interpretation. This book is discipline neutral, so readers in any field of study can gain a clear understanding of these systems and their virtually unlimited applications.
* The authors underscore close interactions among the related areas of remote sensing, GIS, GPS, digital image processing, and environmental modeling.
* Appendices include material on sources of remote sensing data and information, remote sensing periodicals, online glossaries, and online tutorials.
Table of Contents
Concepts and Foundations of Remote Sensing.
Elements of Photographic Systems.
Basic Principles of Photogrammetry.
Introduction to Visual Image Interpretation.
Multispectral, Thermal, and Hyperspectral Sensing.
Earth Resource Satellites Operating in the Optical Spectrum.
Digital Image Processing.
Microwave Sensing.