Digital Remote Sensing

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Electromagnetic radiation. 3. Imaging systems. 4. Visual interpretation. 5. Hardware and software options. 6. Pre-processing and rectification. 7. Enhancement techniques. 8. Spatial filtering. 9. Band combination. 10. Classification techniques. 11. Geographical information system. 12. Application trends. 13. Conclusion. Appendices: 1. List of companies and available instruments. 2. Functional specifications required for GIS. 3. IRS-IC orbit, coverage and referencing scheme. 4. Estimation of the centre and corner co-ordinates of LISS-III and PAN scenes. 5. Announcement of satellite data product prices for Indian users for the period 1-4-1997 to 31-3-1998. 6. Specifications of IRS-P4 payload. Bibliography. Index.

"Remote sensing has provided a new impetus for the earth, resource and environmental scientists. This gift from the space technology has to be fully harnessed for tackling the problems of the country. Increasing population and diminishing resources have compelled our planners, leaders and scientists to consider better ways for the management of natural resources. Plea for sustainable development has added new dimensions to resource and environmental management. Synoptic view and quick decision making process have become essential to meet the challenges appearing over the national scene. At this juncture, remote sensing technology has come to the rescue.

The Indian space programme has provided opportunities for the scientists and technologists to work out strategies in the management of resources. The application of technology obviously required trained man power to take benefit of the opportunities at their disposal. The thematic scientists have to be exposed in their own application areas. Four satellites, specifically for remote sensing (IRS-1A/IB/P2/1D), have been launched. But, it is the responsibility of the scientists to work out methodologies for integrating this latest technology with the traditional and conventional methods which is being practiced in the country over decades. This is perhaps the only way to make remote sensing most acceptable among the decision makers in their own set up.

This book has been written with a objective to introduce the remote sensing technology to the application scientists in India. The idea is to provide a comprehensive picture of the scenario of remote sensing in India. This book should be useful to remote sensing scientists and engineers, geographers, geologists, ecologists and environmental scientists, agricultural and soil scientists and urban and regional planners. Regional, state and university remote sensing centres may like to have this book as well." (jacket)

[Prithvish Nag is the Director of the National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization.]