Environmental Sensing: Analytical Techniques for Earth Observation

Remote sensing has witnessed a renaissance as new sensor systems, data collection capabilities and image processing methodologies have expanded the technological capabilities of this science into new and important applications areas. Perhaps nowhere has this trend been more evident than in the study of earth environments. Within this broad application area remote sensing has proven to be an invaluable asset supporting timely data gathering at a range of synoptic scales, facilitating the mapping of complex landscapes and promoting the analysis of environmental process. Yet remote sensing's contribution to the study of human/environmental interaction is scattered throughout a rich and diverse literature spanning the social and physical sciences, which frustrates access to, and the sharing of the knowledge gained through, these recent advances, and inhibits the operational use of these methods and techniques in day to day environmental practice, a recognized gap that reduces the effectiveness of environmental management programs. The objective of this book is to address this gap and provide the synthesis of method and application that is currently missing in the environmental science, re-introducing remote sensing as an important decision-support technology.

As hyperspectral sensors, soft image classification strategies, nano- satellites, sensor webs and a myriad of other exciting technologies emerge from the research laboratories, a need exists to assemble the relevant principles, methods and proven applications into a focused discussion centered on environmental problem solving. In many ways, placing remote sensing more clearly into a problem-specific context moves us beyond the traditions commonly found in introductory textbooks and demonstrates the benefits that can be derived from this dynamic information technology.

This book expands on the material that would be the subject matter common to an introductory textbook in remote sensing by offering a more directed focus complemented by the theory and methods germane to the analysis and assessment of environment qualities and process.