Remote Sensing Investigations

As soon as humans could be carried off the ground with hot air balloons, people began taking pictures from this wondrous vantage point (see MIT summary of views of aerial photography). In the late 1950s we moved into the Space Age and cameras and sensors we put onboard. This satellite data, processed through computers, changed our understanding of Earth and its many intertwined processes.

A great deal of satellite data is available for free over the Internet, so use the Investigations that follow to learn how to manipulate the data to study areas that interest you most, including your neighborhood!

Background of Remote Sensing

Overview of Remote Sensing

History of Remote Sensing

For a sampling of and details about the many ways we use remote sensing, see NASA’s Remote Sensing Tutorial

For on-line remote sensing activities for K-5, visit Earth Systems Connection.

Investigations

Displaying Invisible Light: False Color

Characteristic Surface Reflectance

See examples of plant reflectance patterns

Using Analysis Tools

Vegetation Measurements

Satellite Analysis

For interactive, on-line remote sensing activities that uses the free Multispec software, see Indiana State University's Exploring Light Energy Interactions with Earth Features (Grades 7-12).

Back to Investigation O verview

Aerial photograph from about 600 meters (0.6 km)
over Cape Cod, MA. Photo taken by John Pickle.

Aerial photograph of Boston, MA taken from 8 km.
Click here for free orthophotos of Massachusetts.

Landsat image of Boston, MA taken from 920 km.
Click here for free Landsat images for the
United States.