Remote Sensing is the most common method of data collection throughout the world. There are four main components of Remote Sensing, as follows:
- A Target
- An energy Source
- A transmission path
- A Sensor
An object on earth, in general, which is to be studied by collecting data related to it, is the target. The target can be any geographic feature or any element of the earth. An energy source sends the waves which get reflected back from this target, via a transmission path such as space or air, and reaches the sensor.
Energy wave types and its reflection from the target depends upon the spectral signature of the object. The data collected by the sensor in the form of energy waves is sent to the data processing centres on the earth. The computers process this data to make it ready for scientific and general use.
