As of February 2024, 2258 paper and eBook copies have been sold with 55 universities and colleges partnering with the publisher and adopting the textbook (along with answers to questions at the end of each chapter) for their remote sensing course.
The textbook was designed for an introductory university course in remote sensing. No prior training in remote sensing is required. Courses in introductory physics, physical geography, and physical geology provide useful background, but are not essential for users of this book. There is enough depth in the text for both undergraduate and graduate students, and enough structure to support individuals outside of academics who are eager to learn how remote sensing can help them improve their scientific knowledge and impact in the workplace.
The approach of the text follows the format of the remote sensing courses we have taught in Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences; Geology; and Geography Departments at several institutions. It emphasizes a basic understanding of remote sensing concepts and systems followed by the interpretation of images and their application to a range of disciplines. The Fourth Edition includes six new chapters: • Chapter 7: Digital Elevation Models and Lidar • Chapter 8: Drones and Manned Aircraft Imaging • Chapter 10: Geographic Information Systems • Chapter 12: Renewable Resources • Chapter 16: Climate Change • Chapter 17: Other ApplicationsIt also provides over 500 figures and color plates. More than half of the figures found in the chapters are new. Throughout the text a web-link symbol (circle with lat/long lines and an arrow) indicates that a color version of a figure or a digital image is available online for viewing and further study (https://waveland.com/Sabins-Ellis/Digital_Images/).
The first eight chapters focus on major remote sensing concepts and systems, the next two chapters review digital image processing and GIS, and the last seven chapters provide case histories from many disciples. Each chapter has extensive references that support more in-depth learning.The first chapter introduces the major remote sensing systems and the interactions between electromagnetic energy and materials that are the basis for remote sensing. The seven following chapters describe the major remote sensing systems: photographs, Landsat, multispectral satellites, thermal IR, radar, DEMs and lidar, and drones and manned aircraft. For each imaging and surface elevation measuring system the following topics are covered: 1. Physical properties of materials and their interactions with electromagnetic energy, 2. Design and operation, 3. Characteristics, and 4. Guidelines and examples for interpretation.The chapter on image processing emphasizes enhancement techniques and information extraction while the following GIS chapter demonstrates how images and DEMs benefit from GIS integration and analysis. The remaining chapters describe environmental, renewable and nonrenewable resources, land use/land cover, natural hazards, climate change, and other applications for remote sensing, such as public health and archeology.Each chapter includes a series of questions that will help promote understanding of key concepts presented in the chapter. An Answer Key is available to instructors (waveland.com ). Students will need a pocket lens stereoscope and a pair of red/cyan anaglyph glasses to view stereo models in 3-D. A Glossary provides basic definitions of important remote sensing terms and acronyms. There are four appendices: • Appendix A: Basic Geology for Remote Sensing describes earth science concepts that are employed in some image interpretations. • Appendix B: Location of Images provides a world and conterminous United States map that display the location of images that are discussed and shown in figures, plates, and digital images. • Appendix C: Overview of the Remote Sensing Digital Database shows how the database is organized as well as the types of data that are supplied. • Appendix D: Overview of the Digital Image Processing Lab Manual outlines the goals of each of the 12 exercises and the processes that will be executed during each lab.
A proposed sequence for integrating the textbook, lab manual, and digital database into a semester-long course that includes lectures, labs, and student projects is shown below. The instructor may choose to cover only one or two application chapters when the course is constrained by a short semester or to assign application chapters to students to support class presentations. Chapter 9 (Digital Image Processing), Chapter 10 (Geographic Information Systems), and Chapter 14 (Land Use/Land Cover) can be integrated into a lab schedule. Toward the end of the semester the database can be used to help students jump-start and support special projects.