Detalle de las aplicaciones

 

Geology

Remote sensing is used as a tool to extract information about the land surface structure, composition or subsurface, but is often combined with other data sources providing complementary measurements. Multispectral data can provide information on lithology or rock composition based on spectral reflectance. Radar provides an expression of surface topography and roughness, and thus is extremely valuable, especially when integrated with another data source to provide detailed relief.
Geological applications of remote sensing include the following:

• surficial deposit / bedrock mapping

• lithological mapping

• structural mapping

• sand and gravel (aggregate) exploration/ exploitation

• mineral exploration

• hydrocarbon exploration

• environmental geology

• geobotany

• baseline infrastructure

• sedimentation mapping and monitoring

• event mapping and monitoring

• geo-hazard mapping

• planetary mapping

 

Agriculture

Satellite and airborne images are used as mapping tools to classify crops, examine their health and viability, and monitor farming practices. Agricultural applications of remote sensing include the following (CCRS: Tutorial: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing):

• crop type classification

• crop condition assessment

• crop yield estimation

• mapping of soil characteristics

• mapping of soil management practices

• compliance monitoring (farming practices)

Forestry - Forestry applications of remote sensing include the following:

Reconnaissance mapping: Objectives to be met by national forest/environment agencies include forest cover updating, depletion monitoring, and measuring biophysical properties of

• forest stands.

• forest cover type discrimination

• agroforestry mapping

Commercial forestry: Of importance to commercial forestry companies and to resource management agencies are inventory and mapping applications: collecting harvest information, updating of inventory information for timber supply, broad forest

• type, vegetation density, and biomass measurements.

• clear cut mapping / regeneration assessment

• burn delineation

• infrastructure mapping / operations support

• forest inventory

• biomass estimation

• species inventory

Environmental monitoring: Conservation authorities are concerned with monitoring the quantity, health and diversity of the Earth's forests.

• deforestation (rainforest, mangrove colonies)

• species inventory

• watershed protection (riparian strips)

• coastal protection (mangrove forests)

• forest health and vigor

 

Hydrology

Remote sensing offers a synoptic view of the spatial distribution and dynamics of hydrological phenomena, often unattainable by traditional ground surveys. Radar has brought a new dimension to hydrological studies with its active sensing capabilities, allowing the time window of image acquisition to include inclement weather conditions or seasonal or diurnal darkness.

Examples of hydrological applications include (CCRS: Tutorial: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing):

• wetlands mapping and monitoring,

• soil moisture estimation,

• snow pack monitoring / delineation of extent,

• measuring snow thickness,

• determining snow-water equivalent,

• river and lake ice monitoring,

• flood mapping and monitoring,

• glacier dynamics monitoring (surges, ablation)

• river /delta change detection

• drainage basin mapping and watershed modeling

• irrigation canal leakage detection

• irrigation scheduling

 

Sea ice

Remote sensing data can be used to identify and map different ice types, locate leads (large navigable cracks in the ice), and monitor ice movement. With current technology, this information can be passed to the client in a very short timeframe from acquisition. Users of this type of information include the Coast Guard, port authorities, commercial shipping and fishing industries, ship builders, resource managers (oil and gas / mining), infrastructure construction companies and environmental consultants, marine insurance agents, scientists, and commercial tour operators.