This textbook is one of the first to explain the fundamentals and applications of remote sensing at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Topics include definitions and a brief history of payloads and platforms, data acquisition and specifications, image processing techniques, data integration and spatial modeling, and a range of applications covering terrestrial, atmospheric, oceanographic and planetary disciplines. The policy and law issues of remote sensing and the future trends on the horizon are also covered.
Remote sensing is an exciting, dynamic technology that is transforming the Earth sciences – terrestrial, atmospheric, and marine – as well as the practices of agriculture, disaster response, engineering, natural resources, providing evidence in legal cases and documented humanitarian crises, and many other fields. Increasingly, understanding of these techniques will be central to a number of disciplines, particularly as the technology advances.
Professor Siamak Khorram is a Professor of Remote Sensing and Imaging Processing and has joint faculty appointments at both the University of California at Berkeley and at North Carolina State University. He is the Professor and Founder of the Center for Earth Observation at North Carolina State University. He is a former Vice President for Academic Programs and Dean of the International Space University (ISU) as well as the former Chair of the ISU’s Academic Council and Affiliated Campuses Network. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of ISU. Dr. Khorram is the author of over 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and major technical reports. He is a member of several professional and scientific societies, and has served as major/guiding professor for over 30 Ph.D. and Masters in remote sensing and image processing. His Ph.D. is awarded jointly by the University of California campuses at Berkeley and Davis.
Dr. Frank H. Koch is a Research Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service. Previously, he was a Research Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University. His primary area of research is alien forest pest invasions. Specifically, he is interested in the spatio-temporal dynamics of invasions at national and continental scales. This multidisciplinary work involves GIS, remote sensing, statisitics, and spatial simulation modeling. Dr. Koch regularly collaborates with other USDA Forest Service scientists as well as researchers from
the Canadian Forest Service, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and several universities. He has authored numerous journal articles and other publications. Dr. Koch received his B.A. from Duke University and his M.S. and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University.
Dr. Cynthia Van Der Wiele is an independent researcher and consultant, frequently collaborating with the Center for Earth Observation at North Carolina State University. Dr. Van Der Wiele receiveda B.S.
and M.L.A. from North Carolina State University, an M.E.M. and M.F. from Duke University, and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. Her work uses GIS and remote sensing techniques for applied research about sustainable rural development, conservation planning, and water quality. She has worked with several state and local government agencies including; the NC Division of Water Quality Wetlands Unit, the St. Johns River Water Management. And the NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis. She is active in several professional societies.
Dr. Stacy A. C. Nelson is an Associate Professor with the Center for Earth Observation at North Carolina State University. Dr. Nelson received a B.S. from Jackson State University, an M.A. from the College of William, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. His research centers on GIS technologies to address questions of land use and aquatic systems. He has worked with several federal and state agencies including; the Sten
nis Spa
ce Center in Mississippi, the NASA-Regional Earth Science Applications Center (RESAC), the USDA Forest Service, and two Departments of Environmental Quality at the state level. He is active in several professional societies.
