Physical Principles of Remote Sensing, WG Rees, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 237pp.
Making effective use of technical information; of general applicability to environmental problems; written for the first party participant.
Physical Principles of Remote Sensing is a technical examination and explanation of remote sensing of the environment. Each chapter is followed by problems upon which to test one's understanding of the chapter's focus.
Physical Principles of Remote Sensing is required reading for GEOG 4093/5093 as taught by Professor Koni Steffen. This work will be of interest to those who seek to understand the use of remote sensing. The work begins with an introduction which offers definitions of, and assertions regarding the need for, remote sensing. The introduction also contains a classification of remote sensing systems. In the next two chapters, the author examines electromagnetic radiation in homogeneous media and the interaction of radiation with the surface and atmosphere.
The following four chapters address four different systems. The first of these examines photographic systems by addressing photographic optics and film. The technique of sterophotography for obtaining information about the height of surface features is explained. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the applications of aerial photography. The next chapter examines electro-optical systems; both scanning and non-scanning. The author discusses photomultipliers, photodiodes and vidicons. Applications of both visible and near- infrared imagery, and thermal infrared remote sensing are given. In discussion of passive microwave systems the author addresses radiometry and presents an explanation and graphical illustration of the design of apassive microwave radiometer: the Scanning Multi-channel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR). This chapter concludes with the oceanographic, meteorological and terrestrial applications of microwave radiometry. The final type of system examined are ranging systems; primarily laser profiling and radar altimetry.
Chapter eight is a discussion of scattering techniques. Rees examines in some depth two types of imaging radar: the side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) and the synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The penultimate chapter examines the relative merits of aircraft and satellites as platforms for remote sensing. The final chapter is devoted to data processing. Rees examines: storage and transmission of data; image processing, preprocessing, enhancement and classification; and data compression. The text is appended with data tables.
Physical Principles of Remote Sensing is a thorough examination of the use and underlying principles of remote sensing. A general familiarity with the subject, while not necessary, will be most useful to the serious reader.
T. A. O'Lonergan
G6REES