Remote-sensing Technology Gaining Popularity 

Syllabus:GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• Remote-sensing technology is becoming increasingly popular and widely used by researchers.

What is Remote Sensing?

• Remote sensing refers to the acquisition of information about Earth’s surface without direct contact, typically using satellites, aircraft, or drones.
• It relies on detecting spectral signatures of objects through visible, infrared, and microwave sensors.
• In India, remote sensing is central to environmental monitoring, agriculture, urban planning, and national security.

Remote sensing has a wide range of applications

• Coastal applications: Monitor shoreline changes, track sediment transport, and map coastal features. Data can be used for coastal mapping and erosion prevention.
• Ocean applications: Monitor ocean circulation and current systems, measure ocean temperature and wave heights, and track sea ice.
  • Data can be used to better understand the oceans and how to best manage ocean resources.
• Hazard assessment: Track hurricanes, earthquakes, erosion, and flooding. Data can be used to assess the impacts of a natural disaster and create preparedness strategies to be used before and after a hazardous event.
• Natural resource management: Monitor land use, map wetlands, and chart wildlife habitats. Data can be used to minimize the damage that urban growth has on the environment and help decide how to best protect natural resources.
  • Identifying groundwater zones and mineral deposits.
• Forests & Ecology: Mapping forest cover, biodiversity hotspots, and carbon stock.
  • In plants, satellites detect chlorophyll via near-infrared and red light to monitor crop and forest health using indices
• Agriculture: Crop yield estimation, soil moisture mapping, and precision farming.
• Urban Planning: Monitoring land use change, infrastructure growth, and pollution.

Importance of Remote Sensing

• It Provides reliable data for governance and planning.
• It  reduces the need for extensive ground surveys.
• It enhances surveillance and border monitoring.
• It supports conservation and climate adaptation strategies.
• It positions India as a key player in space-based Earth observation.

 Challenges

• Limited availability of high-resolution data for public use.
• Difficulty in combining satellite data with ground-based surveys.
• Need for trained manpower in advanced geospatial analytics.
• Dependence on foreign satellites for certain high-resolution imagery.
• Balancing open data with national security concerns.

India’s Steps in Remote Sensing

• ISRO’s Remote Sensing Satellites: Launch of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series and Cartosat satellites for high-resolution imaging.
• Forest Survey of India (FSI): Biennial India State of Forest Report based on remote sensing.
• National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) provides geospatial services and disaster support.
•  Indian Space Policy 2023 encourages private sector participation in satellite data and applications.
•  Digital India Initiatives: Integration of geospatial data for governance and citizen services.

 Conclusion and Way Forward 

• Remote sensing is vital for India’s development and strategic needs, from forest monitoring to disaster prediction. 
• To fully utilize it, India must focus on data access, skill development, and infrastructure upgrades.
  • Initiatives by ISRO and national policies indicate that remote sensing will become a key tool for governance, science, and security.

Source :TH