Remote sensing- GIS and its application

&<–2/”>a >nbsp;

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object and thus in contrast to on-site observation.

In current usage, the term “remote sensing” generally refers to the use of satellite- or aircraft-based sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth, including on the surface and in the Atmosphere and Oceans, based on propagated signals.

Remote sensing is used in numerous fields, including geography, land surveying and most Earth Science disciplines for example, hydrology, ECOLOGY, Oceanography, glaciology, geology.It also has military, intelligence, commercial, economic, planning, and humanitarian applications.

GIS

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer based application of technology involving spatial and attributes information to act as a decision support tool.

It keeps information in different layers and generates various combinations pertaining to the requirement of the decision-making. In the recent times, GIS has emerged as an effective tool in management of disasters since, geo-spatial data and socio-economic information need to be amalgamated for the better DECISION MAKING in handling a disaster or to plan for tackling a disaster in a better way.

Applications:

Disaster Management

The different line departments and agencies who are stakeholders in the disaster management process could utilize GIS. Some basic hardware like computer system, printer, Network systems, along with GIS Software is required to set up the GIS in any organisation.

Objectives:

The prime objectives of developing the GIS Database are to help disaster managers at State, District and Block level for:

i) Pre-disaster planning and preparedness
ii) Prediction and early warning

iii) Damage assessment and relief management

GIS combines layers of information on various themes to enable the managers to take the most appropriate decisions under the given circumstances. For disaster management, a GIS database could be a useful managerial tool for various reasons, some of which are as under:

Disaster Managers could generate maps both at micro and macro level indicating vulnerability to different extents under different threat perceptions.
Locations likely to remain unaffected or remain comparatively safe could be identified.
Alternate routes to shelters, camps, and important locations in the event of disruption of normal surface Communication could be worked out.
Smooth rescue and evacuation operations could be properly planned.
Rehabilitation and post-disaster reconstruction works could be properly organized.
Locations suitable for construction of shelters, godowns, housing colonies, etc. can be scientifically identified.
Areas where no construction should be taken up or existing habitations require relocation could be identified.

Hydrology

Remote sensing of hydrologic processes can provide information on locations where in situ sensors may be unavailable or sparse. It also enables observations over large spatial extents. Many of the variables constituting the terrestrial water balance, for example surface water storage, Soil moisture, Precipitation, evapotranspiration, and snow and ice, are measurable using remote sensing at various spatial-temporal resolutions and accuracies. Sources of remote sensing include land-based sensors, airborne sensors and satellite sensors, which can capture microwave, thermal and near-infrared data or use LIDAR.

Weather forecasting and Ecology

Many ecological research projects would benefit from the creation of a GIS to explore spatial relationships within and between the data. In particular, while some projects can be done without using a GIS, many will be greatly enhanced by using it (click here for some examples of research projects which have used GIS).

The very act of creating a GIS will make you think about the spatial relationships within your data, and will help you formulate hypotheses to test or suggest new ones to explore. In addition, thinking about your data in a spatial manner will help you identify potential spatial issues and/or biases with your data.

GIS can also be used to make measurements and carry out calculations which would otherwise be very difficult. For example, a GIS can be used to work out how much of your study area consists of a specific habitat type, or how much of it is over 1,000m high, or has a gradient greater than 5º, and so on. Similarly, a GIS can be used to calculate the size of the home range of an individual or the total area occupied by a specific species or how long your survey tracks are, or how much survey effort was put into different parts of your study area.

GIS can also be used to link data together in the way that is needed for statistical analysis. For example, many statistical packages require all your data to be in a single table, with one line per sample and then information about that sample and the location where it came from in different columns or fields. A GIS provides you with a way to easily create such tables and populate it with information, such as the altitude at each location, the gradient of slope and the direction it faces, from other data sets. This makes preparing your data for statistical analysis much simpler.

Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In other words, it is the process of obtaining information about an object or area from a distance. Remote sensing can be used to collect data about a wide range of things, including land cover, vegetation, water bodies, and weather conditions.

GIS, or geographic information system, is a computer system that stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data. GIS can be used to create maps, charts, and other visualizations of geographic data. It can also be used to analyze spatial relationships between different features on a map.

Remote sensing and GIS are often used together to create a more complete picture of an area. For example, remote sensing can be used to collect data about the land cover of an area, and GIS can be used to analyze that data and create maps of the land cover. Remote sensing and GIS can also be used to monitor changes over time, such as changes in land use or vegetation cover.

There are many applications of remote sensing and GIS. Some of the most common applications include:

agriculture: Remote sensing can be used to monitor crop Growth, identify areas of crop Stress, and assess crop yields.
Forestry: Remote sensing can be used to monitor forest Health, identify areas of deforestation, and assess the impact of forest fires.
Geology: Remote sensing can be used to map geological features, identify mineral deposits, and assess the risk of landslides.
Hydrology: Remote sensing can be used to map water bodies, monitor water levels, and assess the impact of flooding.
Meteorology: Remote sensing can be used to track weather patterns, predict storms, and assess the impact of Climate change.
Oceanography: Remote sensing can be used to map the ocean floor, monitor ocean currents, and assess the impact of pollution.
Archaeology: Remote sensing can be used to locate archaeological sites, identify buried features, and assess the impact of development.
Urban planning: Remote sensing can be used to map land use, identify areas of development, and assess the impact of transportation.
Environmental monitoring: Remote sensing can be used to monitor air quality, water quality, and land use change.
Disaster management: Remote sensing can be used to assess the damage caused by disasters, such as floods, Earthquakes, and wildfires.
Defense: Remote sensing can be used to monitor enemy activity, identify targets, and assess the impact of weapons.
Law enforcement: Remote sensing can be used to track criminals, identify crime scenes, and assess the impact of crime.
Education: Remote sensing can be used to teach students about geography, geology, and environmental science.
Research: Remote sensing can be used to conduct research on a wide range of topics, including Climate Change, deforestation, and urban sprawl.

Remote sensing and GIS are powerful tools that can be used to collect, analyze, and visualize data about the Earth. They have a wide range of applications in many different fields.

What is remote sensing?

Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. Remote sensing is often used to obtain data about the Earth’s surface, including its land cover, water bodies, and atmosphere.

What is GIS?

GIS, or geographic information system, is a computer system that stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data. GIS can be used to create maps, charts, and other visualizations of geographic data.

What are the applications of remote sensing and GIS?

Remote sensing and GIS have a wide range of applications, including:

Land use planning
Natural resource management
Environmental monitoring
Disaster response
Urban planning
Transportation planning
Agriculture
Climate change research

What are the benefits of using remote sensing and GIS?

Remote sensing and GIS offer a number of benefits, including:

They can be used to collect data over large areas quickly and easily.
They can be used to collect data in difficult-to-access areas.
They can be used to create detailed maps and visualizations of geographic data.
They can be used to analyze large amounts of data.
They can be used to make informed decisions about land use, natural resource management, environmental monitoring, and other issues.

What are the challenges of using remote sensing and GIS?

Remote sensing and GIS also have a number of challenges, including:

The cost of acquiring and maintaining remote sensing data and GIS software.
The need for specialized training to use remote sensing and GIS.
The complexity of some remote sensing and GIS data sets.
The potential for data errors.
The potential for privacy and security concerns.

What are the future trends in remote sensing and GIS?

The future of remote sensing and GIS is likely to be characterized by the following trends:

The increasing availability of high-resolution remote sensing data.
The development of new remote sensing technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging and lidar.
The increasing use of cloud computing for remote sensing and GIS.
The increasing integration of remote sensing and GIS with other technologies, such as Social Media and big data.
The increasing use of remote sensing and GIS for decision-making in a variety of fields.

Remote sensing is the science and technology of acquiring information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object.
Remote sensing data can be used to create maps, identify objects, and monitor changes over time.
GIS is a computer system that stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data.
GIS can be used to overlay different layers of data, such as land use, elevation, and Population density, to create maps that show the relationships between different variables.
Remote sensing and GIS are often used together to create more accurate and informative maps.

Here are some MCQs about remote sensing and GIS:

Which of the following is not a type of remote sensing data?
(A) Satellite imagery
(B) Aerial photography
(C) LiDAR
(D) Ground-based measurements
Which of the following is not a GIS application?
(A) Creating maps
(B) Identifying objects
(C) Monitoring changes over time
(D) Predicting future events
Which of the following is a benefit of using remote sensing and GIS together?
(A) They can be used to create more accurate and informative maps.
(B) They can be used to overlay different layers of data to create maps that show the relationships between different variables.
(C) They can be used to monitor changes over time.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is a limitation of using remote sensing and GIS?
(A) They can be expensive to use.
(B) They can be difficult to use.
(C) They can be time-consuming to use.
(D) All of the above.
Which of the following is an example of how remote sensing and GIS have been used together?
(A) To create maps of the Earth’s surface
(B) To identify and monitor changes in land use
(C) To track the movement of animals
(D) All of the above.