FEATURE
The Field of Remote Sensing Its importance in today’s mapping technology
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emote sensing is a field of study that uses technology to collect and analyze massive amounts of data. The field began in the early 20th century, when French artist Louis Daguerre invented the first practical camera - the daguerreotype, which captures images using a silver plated copper sheet treated with iodine vapor. World War I pilots strap camera technology to their biplanes to record conditions behind enemy lines. This development kick started an age of airborne surveillance and satellite-enabled telecommunications. “Remote sensing specifically in the context of earth observation satellites is central to the mapping technologies used by us and our customers specifically, but also the world in general,” says Jaurez Dorfling, Managing Director, at GEO Data Design (Pty) Ltd. Today, remote sensing technology has advanced to the point where it can be applied in a variety of applications. For example, INSAR uses a remote sensing technique called interferometry to monitor the climate. Its main application is to provide early warnings of landslides. The normalized difference vegetation index monitors global food supplies. Healthy crops reflect green, unhealthy crops reflect red, and so on. These applications can save up to 10 percent on fertilizer, which is an added bonus.
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These satellites range from optical, multispectral, superspectral, hyperspectral, SAR, laser and other types that provide constant capturing of data. This data and imagery are geolocated and could therefore be used to map every corner of the earth and sky,” comments Jaurez. Researchers use high-powered sensors to measure the surface of the Earth. They can use this data to determine the characteristics of a landscape. Light in the visible spectrum is the most common metric used in remote sensing. Infrared light and ultraviolet radiation are also valuable for specialty applications.
Africa has many remote and difficult to reach areas. Mapping these areas and gathering intelligence can be challenging and expensive. Earth observation satellites can significantly reduce these challenges of collecting this information to enable effective and timely decisions.
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“A plethora of satellites offering different types of imagery and data are orbiting the earth as we speak, with even more being launched on an ongoing basis.
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March-April issue l 2022
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