Classification of remote sensing

Classification of remote sensing

On the basis of the sources of electromagnetic energy, the remote sensing can be classified as passive and active remote sensing. In a simple way, we can understand that the passive remote sensing is similar to taking a picture with an ordinary camera where as active remote sensing is analogous to taking picture with camera having built-in flash.

On the basis of the energy source, the active remote sensing generates and uses its own energy to illuminate the target and records the reflected energy where as the passive remote sensing depend on solar radiation to illuminate the target. On the basis of region of spectrum in which they operate, the active remote sensing operate in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum where as the passive remote sensing operate in the visible and infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wave lengths of the active remote sensing are longer than 1 where as the passive remote sensing, the wave length range from 0.4 to 1.0 mm.

Some examples of active sensors are Fluorosensor and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Passive sensors record radiation reflected from the earth's surface. The source of this radiation must come from outside the sensor; in most cases, this is solar energy. Because of this energy requirement, passive solar sensors can only capture data during daylight hours. Active sensors are different from passive sensors. Unlike passive sensors, active sensors require the energy source to come from within the sensor. A laser-beam remote sensing system is an active sensor that sends out a beam of light with a known wavelength and frequency. This beam of light hits the earth and is reflected back to the sensor, which records the time it took for the beam of light to return.