scope:

Purpose of This Manual.

This EM is intended to promote effective use of remotely sensed data by all USACE divisions and districts.

This manual reviews the theory and practice of remote sensing and image processing. Remote sensing provides a cost-effective means of surveying, monitoring, and mapping objects at or near the surface of the Earth. This technology has been rapidly integrated into a variety of USACE applications and has proven to be valuable in meeting Civil Works business program requirements.

A goal of the Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Center of Expertise (RS/GIS CX) at the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) is to enable effective use of remotely sensed data by all USACE divisions and districts. The USACE RS/GIS CX supports new and promising remote sensing and GIS technologies. Introductory and Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS PROSPECT courses are offered through the RS/GIS CX.

The practice of remote sensing has become greatly simplified by useful and affordable commercial software, which has made numerous advances in recent years. Satellite and airborne platforms provide local and regional perspective views of the Earth's surface. These views are accessible at various resolutions and are highly accurate depictions of surface objects. Satellite images and image processing allow researchers to better understand and evaluate a variety of Earth processes occurring on the surface and in the hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.