GD11-2 - Platforms and sensors

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Author and Citation Info: 

DiBiase, D., DeMers, M., Johnson, A., Kemp, K., Luck, A. T., Plewe, B., and Wentz, E. (2006). Platforms and sensors. The Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge. Washington, DC: Association of American Geographers. (2nd Quarter 2016, first digital).

Learning Objectives: 
  • Compare and contrast common sensors by spatial resolution, spectral sensitivity, ground coverage, and temporal resolution (e.g., AVHRR, MODIS [intermediate resolution ~500 m, high temporal] Landsat, commercial high resolution [Ikonos and Quickbird]
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of acoustic remote sensing versus airborne or satellite remote sensing for seafloor mapping
  • Select the most appropriate remotely sensed data source for a given analytical task, study area, budget, and availability
  • Differentiate between “push-broom” and “cross-track” scanning technologies
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of airborne remote sensing versus satellite remote sensing
  • Differentiate between “active” and “passive” sensors, citing examples of each
  • Explain the principle of multibeam bathymetric mapping