What is remote sensing?

Remote sensing is a technique of collecting information about the earth’s natural resources using aircraft or satellites. The basic tool used here is photography — infrared and false colour photography in particular. Modern remote sensing satellites are equipped with special cameras which take photographs of any particular region of the earth’s surface in several colours simultaneously. These separate images can be electronically processed to produce multi-colour images and maps outlining areas of specific interest such as diseased or pest infected crops, forest areas, rich fishing areas in seas, even underground water and mineral reserves. Remote sensing is an indispensable tool for better monitoring and management of natural resources.