What is GIS

GIS: Geographical Information System.

"GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, Storing, manipulating, and displaying

geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their location."

"A GIS is an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and
personnel to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of
geographically ferenced information."

What is RS(Remote Sensing)

Remote sensing is the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an
area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance (typically from satellite or
aircraft). Special cameras collect remotely sensed images, which help researchers "sense"
things about the Earth. Some examples are:

• Cameras on satellites and airplanes take images of large areas on the Earth's surface,
allowing us to see much more than we can see when standing on the ground.
• Sonar systems on ships can be used to create images of the ocean floor without needing
to travel to the bottom of the ocean.

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Scope of GIS and RS in Environmental Science
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) play crucial roles in
environmental science by providing tools for data analysis, visualization, and management.
GIS enables researchers to map and analyze spatial data, facilitating the study of ecological
patterns, land use changes, and habitat distribution. It aids in decision-making for conservation
efforts, urban planning, and resource management.

Remote Sensing complements GIS by allowing for the collection of large-scale environmental
data through satellite imagery and aerial surveys. This technology helps monitor changes in
vegetation cover, water bodies, and urban development over time. Together, GIS and RS
enhance understanding of environmental processes, support sustainable practices, and inform
policy decisions related to climate change, biodiversity conservation, and disaster
management. Their integration leads to more effective and informed environmental
management strategies.

Future scope of GIS and RS in Environmental science

The future scope of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) in
environmental science is vast and evolving. Here are some key areas of potential development:

Climate Change Analysis: GIS and RS will play critical roles in modeling climate change
impacts, assessing vulnerabilities, and developing adaptation strategies. Enhanced spatial data
can improve predictions of climate patterns and their effects on ecosystems.

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Biodiversity Conservation: Advanced GIS techniques will facilitate the mapping of
habitats, species distribution, and migration patterns. Remote sensing can monitor changes in
land use and habitat loss, aiding conservation efforts.

Disaster Management: Integrating GIS and RS can enhance disaster risk assessment,
response planning, and recovery strategies. Real-time data can improve early warning systems
for natural disasters.

Urban Planning and Development: As urban areas expand, GIS can help analyze land
use patterns, optimize resource allocation, and ensure sustainable development practices that
mitigate environmental impacts.

Water Resource Management: GIS and RS can improve the monitoring and
management of water resources, including watershed management, flood risk assessment, and
water quality monitoring.

Pollution Tracking: Remote sensing technologies can be used to monitor air and water
quality, track pollution sources, and assess the effectiveness of regulatory measures.

Agricultural Monitoring: Precision agriculture, supported by GIS and RS, can enhance
crop monitoring, optimize input usage, and improve yield forecasting, contributing to
sustainable agricultural practices.

Public Health: GIS can analyze spatial relationships between environmental factors and
public health outcomes, assisting in disease tracking and management.

Integration with AI and Big Data: The integration of GIS and RS with artificial
intelligence and big data analytics will enhance predictive modeling and decision-making
processes in environmental science.

Citizen Science and Community Engagement: Advances in mobile GIS applications

will empower citizens to contribute data and participate in environmental monitoring and
decision-making.

Overall, the integration of GIS and RS with emerging technologies will significantly enhance
our ability to address complex environmental challenges in the future.

Types of Scanner
Many electronic remote sensors acquire data using scanning systems, which employ a sensor
with a narrow field of view (i.e. IFOV) that sweeps over the terrain to build up and produce a
two-dimensional image of the surface. Scanning systems can be used on both aircraft and
satellite platforms and have essentially the same operating principles. A scanning system used
to collect data over a variety of different wavelength ranges is called a multispectral scanner
(MSS), and is the most commonly used scanning system. There are two main modes or

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methods of scanning employed to acquire multispectral image data - across-track scanning,
and along-track scanning.

Across-track scanners :Across-track scanners scan the Earth in a series of lines. The lines
are oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion of the sensor platform (i.e. across the
swath). Each line is scanned from one side of the sensor to the other, using a rotating mirror
(A). As the platform moves forward over the Earth, successive scans build up a two-
dimensional image of the Earth´s surface. The incoming reflected or emitted radiation is
separated into several spectral components that are detected independently. The UV, visible,
near-infrared, and thermal radiation are dispersed into their constituent wavelengths. A bank of
internal detectors (B), each sensitive to a specific range of wavelengths, detects and measures
the energy for each spectral band and then, as an electrical signal, they are converted to digital
data and recorded for subsequent computer processing.

Along-Tract Scanner :scanners also use the forward motion of the platform to record
successive scan lines and build up a two-dimensional image, perpendicular to the flight
direction. However, instead of a scanning mirror, they use a linear array of detectors (A) located
at the focal plane of the image (B) formed by lens systems (C), which are "pushed" along in
the flight track direction (i.e. along track). These systems are also referred to as pushbroom

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scanners, as the motion of the detector array is analogous to the bristles of a broom being
pushed along a floor. Each individual detector measures the energy for a single ground
resolution cell (D) and thus the size and IFOV of the detectors determines the spatial resolution
of the system. A separate linear array is required to measure each spectral band or channel. For
each scan line, the energy detected by each detector of each linear array is sampled
electronically and digitally recorded.

Swath Width: In remote sensing, swath width is the width of the area on Earth's surface
that can be imaged by a remote sensing system in a single pass. It is a key parameter that
determines the extent of the area that can be observed at once. Swath width can vary depending
on the sensor and the orbit of the satellite, but it is typically several kilometers wide. For
example, the swath width of SPOT 5 is 60 km for the panchromatic band. The effective
swath width is the length along the equator covered by the swath crossing it at a given
inclination angle. The formula for effective swath width is \(h=w/sin(\theta )\), where \(h\) is
the effective swath width, \(w\) is the swath width, and \(\theta \) is the inclination
angle. Remote sensing and GIS are techniques that can be used to assess the availability of
resources like biomass and biofuels. Satellite imagery can be used to quantitatively assess the
biomass cover and available land area over large areas.

IFOV, or instantaneous field of view: IFOV, or instantaneous field of view, is a

measurement of the angular extent of a scene that a single pixel in an imaging system can
capture at a given time. It's a parameter that affects the spatial and spectral resolutions of a
sensor. IFOV is important in many applications, including: Satellite imagery, Aerial
photography, Thermal imaging, and Other remote sensing technologies.

IFOV can be calculated using the following formulas:

• Method 1: IFOV = Detector element size / Camera Focal Length

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 • Method 2: IFOV = FOV / number of pixels in the direction of the FOV multiplied by
[3.14/180)(1,000)]
IFOV is expressed in angular units, such as degrees or radians.