Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

Abstract

This book describes the remote sensing technique as applied to geological mapping, mineral exploration and mining. This book covers the advances made in remote sensing during the last fifteen years. It addresses a wide range of specialists including explorationists, planners, mining engineers, geologists, geophysicists and conservationists. It introduces basic principles and describes the technique of remote sensing. It is a matter of fact that during last decade there has been considerable progress in the development and practical applications of remote sensing methods. They are now widely used in the industry and by the academic community. This is why I consider it timely to publish a book on this topic which addresses a wide circle of readers who are not yet experienced practitioners of remote sensing. This book serves this task extremely well. It covers a wide range of remote sensing methods and practical applications, starting from basic principles of remote sensing and image processing through geographic information systems (GIS), mineral exploration, mine planning, water supply, waste disposal and land restoration. The author provides detailed information about the electromagnetic spectrum used for remote sensing and about the satellites and their parameters. The chapter describing image processing gives a clear and complete description of image corrections, image enhancements and information extraction. A very important part of the book deals with GIS. This system is now widely used both in industry and in academic research, however, not many people are adequately aware of it. The author discusses principles of GIS, its practical applications and the critical factors governing the incorporation of remotely sensed data into a GIS. Another useful chapter of the book is the one dedicated to modern sensing systems. It includes the classification of different sensors and their characteristics. The author describes different space-borne sensor systems, installed in satellites operating since 1984. For example, the reader can find information about sensor systems installed in the Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner, Landsat Thematic Mapper, SEASAT, ERS-1 and many others. There are also data about digital optical imagery from the former Soviet Union (including Soyuzkarta Photography). This chapter also describes the different airborne scanners. One of the main reasons for using airborne scanners is the improvement in spatial resolution which is possible from aircraft. The second half of the book contains detailed analysis of the different remote sensing applications in mineral exploration, environmental study and land restoration. This part brings the possibilities of remote sensing for cost-effective solutions to a wide range of tasks. The author demonstrates how useful geological (lithological and structural) information can be extracted from the satellite images. He discusses the advantages of remote sensing in mine planning and natural hazards study, as well as in forestry and agriculture. The book presents the subject in simple and accessible form and doesn't require any previous acquaintance with remote sensing. The compilation of the contents is logical and covers all necessary subjects related to remote sensing. I am sure that this book will be useful to a wide audience of people interested in remote sensing applications for the solution of geographical, geological, geophysical, mineral exploration and environmental problems.