What Is Remote Sensing?

Remote sensing is an analytical technique used to detect, classify, and obtain information for a given object or phenomenon, without bringing the sample and apparatus into direct contact.

Remote sensing makes possible the collection of data is typically dangerous or inaccessible areas, and this is achieved by the application of methods that rely on emitted or reflected radiation.

Why Does It Matter?

The release of harmful emissions from industrial activity present potential threats to human life and health. Fugitive emissions are un-contained, emissions of gases or vapors typically caused by equipment leaks, evaporative processes, and windblown disturbances during industrial processes.

To ensure the quality of environmental conditions, remote sensing acts as the primary method to detect and prevent these accidental leaks of harmful emissions that may occur during the manufacture and use of toxic and combustible gases.

Types of Remote Sensing

Interferometry

Interferometers are optical tools that can provide range and spectral data with high accuracy and precision. They have been used extensively for astronomical observations and more recently for nearfield precision ranging and spectroscopy.

Remote emission spectroscopy

The development of light dispersion technologies and observations expanded the possibilities of making qualitative and quantitative observations. It allows the determination of the composition and relative concentrations of materials based on the spectral properties of emitted light.

Remote differential absorption spectroscopy

The development of measurements based on changes in spectral features, and establishment of the Beer-Lambert mathematical model of absorption and concentration could be applied to remote sources and measurement of spectral changes probed from remote locations.

RADAR

RADAR uses pulse emission of electromagnetic radiation to range and image remote objects by observing the reflected radiation.

Laser spectroscopy

Several spectroscopy measurement technologies have been developed to harness the speed and specificity potential of measurements based on laser technologies.

LIDAR

LIDAR is similar to RADAR but used lasers to collect high definition ranging data in a line of sight range. Applications include object detection ranging and imaging. or plume and gas detection and measurement.

Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging

Imaging equipment may be equipped by various methods to collect wavelength filtered or wavelength resolved data for each pixel in the field. This provides spectral data for each pixel that can be used for primarily low-resolution spectroscopy.