An Introduction to Remote Sensing and Agricultural Applications
- 2. What is Remote Sensing? • Remote Sensing is a science, technology and art to gather information and analyzing an object or phenomenon without making any physical contact. • This technology is used in numerous fields like geography, hydrology, ecology, oceanography, glaciology, geology. • A geographic information system is a tool that is used for mapping and analyzing feature events on Earth. The remote sensing and GIS technology combine major database operations like statistical analysis and query, with maps. • It allows users to capture, visualize, and analyze objects and features on the Earth’s surface. By collecting imagery, we can classify it into land cover and other types of analyses. • Remote sensing (RS) makes advantage of the way radiation interacts with objects on Earth to learn about their attributes. One of the greatest advantages of remote sensing is the ability to collect accurate data from vast places, especially those otherwise hard-to-reach to humans (such as the ocean floor or a forest in a wildfire).
- 3. • This quality has led to the widespread use of remote sensing in a broad range of commercial applications, from planning cities to forest management to tracking the effects of climate change on crop production. • Water consumption, soil moisture, pest and weed infestations, fallow lands, and urban sprawl are just a few of the factors that can be measured and monitored. There are three essential elements for Remote Sensing: • A platform to hold the instrument • A target or object • An instrument or sensor (to observe the target)
- 7. Uses of Remote Sensing
- 9. • Specially designed remote sensing cameras help scientists gain a deeper understanding of Earth by providing them with images from far away. • At the same time, all of us may better assess any area of interest (AOI) and make decisions with the help of remote sensors that provide a wider view and an abundance of information. Here are just a few illustrations: • Cameras onboard remote sensing satellites and airplanes capture images of vast swaths of Earth’s surface, giving us access to details we wouldn’t otherwise have • Ship’s sonar devices map the seafloor without the need to actually descend to the depths • Satellite cameras capture temperature fluctuations even in remote, unreachable parts of the ocean.
- 10. Optical and radar images are the two most common forms of satellite data, and they are provided by distinct types of remote sensing. 1. Radar images sensors - Excellent bird's-eye view of the earth using optical satellite images. radar sensors are capable of imaging in the daytime, nighttime, and nearly all kinds of weather. Also radar remote sensing can indicate soil moisture, submerged vegetation, water contamination, and biomass in forests and woodlands, all of which are hidden from naked sight. 2. Optical sensors - Only function during daylight since they measure reflected sun energy and cannot see through clouds. If combined with other data sources, remote sensing data equips regional planners with a more complete and up-to-date picture of their areas of responsibility.
- 11. On the Basis of Technical Components of the System: The sensors can be classified into three categories on the basis of technical components of the system and the capability of the detection. These are: 1. Multispectral imaging sensor systems 2. Thermal remote sensing systems 3. Microwave radar sensing systems 1) Multispectral imaging sensor systems The multispectral or multiband imaging systems may use conventional type cameras or may use a combination of both cameras and scanners for various bands of electromagnetic energy. As for example, Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) sensor of Lands at uses both photographic and Scanning systems, which is similar to an ordinary TV camera.
- 12. 2) Thermal remote sensing systems The thermal system uses radiometers, photometers, spectrometers, thermometers to detect the temperature changes. 3) Microwave radar sensing systems Microwave sensing systems use the antenna arrays for collecting and detecting the energy from the terrain elements.
- 13. Applications of Remote Sensing
- 14. Applications of Remote Sensing Using platforms that provide processed images is the most time-efficient method of accessing remote sensing data. This reduces the learning curve for understanding this data and the time and money spent on consulting outside sources. Platforms like these may have a narrower focus, such as providing images for the agricultural sector, or might serve a broader purpose. Agriculture Modern agriculture, there is a pressing need to track crops’ growth and development at different scales and resolutions. The world’s food system requires near-real-time monitoring so that it may better adjust to global warming and extreme weather. Increasing the level of agricultural precision By monitoring crop growth using data from satellites, precision agriculture platforms help farmers optimize their use of fertilizer and other inputs and reduce waste.
- 15. Measuring the soil and crop water content Soil moisture is measured from space via satellite remote sensors. Studies of the hydrologic cycle, drought, flooding, and meteorological processes, among others, rely on estimates of soil moisture content. Remote sensing is useful not only for estimating how much water is in the soil but also for measuring how much water is in crops. Predicting crop yields Potential crop yields can be estimated using remote sensing data based on current weather and soil conditions. With the help of specially developed crop yield prediction models and algorithms, growers can forecast how much harvest they will get from a given plot in a given growing season. Identifying crops If the type of crop being investigated is unknown or unusual plants, remote sensing tools can help identify it. Fast crop classification across large areas is now possible.
- 16. Damage assessment and crop development monitoring With the help of remote sensing technology, farmers can see exactly how far their crops have been affected by injury or stress and at what stage of growth the remaining crop is. Insurers often employ the red and infrared channels of Landsat to evaluate vegetation growth and conduct crop damage assessments on individual fields. It is possible to use this information to verify the existence of planted crops and check up on crop insurance claims. Monitoring droughts Using remote sensing to study weather in agriculture is crucial, especially when looking at drought patterns in rural and farming areas. Assessing how much time has passed since the last rainfall and how long it will be before the next drought. Assessment of crop condition and identification of crop stress The health of crops can be remotely monitored with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) technology. In the NDVI maps, green indicates healthy crop fields, whereas red or blue indicate problem areas. The use of RS technologies is crucial for evaluating the overall health of a crop and its adverse conditions, such as