Satellite Remote Sensing
Past, Present and Future
- 1st Edition - June 1, 2026
- Latest edition
- Author: William J. Emery
- Language: English
Satellite Remote Sensing: Past, Present and Future reviews the evolution of Earth remote sensing, from earlier technologies in aerial and satellite remote sensing of the Earth tha… Read more
Satellite Remote Sensing: Past, Present and Future reviews the evolution of Earth remote sensing, from earlier technologies in aerial and satellite remote sensing of the Earth that paved the way for current techniques to current uses and applications. In addition, the book covers future capabilities and research goals. Sections discuss novel applications, interdisciplinary functions, and outline current uses and limitations of various remote sensing technologies, thus putting into context how breakthroughs were made in developments. This is a valuable reference for students, professors of foundational remote sensing courses, and researchers and professionals seeking a wider understanding of remote sensing and its capabilities.
- Overviews the evolution of Earth remote sensing to provide deeper knowledge of remote sensing technologies
- Summarizes the present status of Earth Remote sensing to better understand current applications and limitations
- Concludes with recent advances, considering future potential uses of these technologies
Researchers, students and professors, who teach or measure and monitor the Earth’s surface in remote sensing, geography, GIS, weather forecasting, geology, geography, physical oceanography, and geophysics
1. The very early developments of remote sensing
a. The development of photography
b. The first balloon photographs of the Earth
c. Kite photography of the Earth
d. Pigeons carrying cameras
e. The Wright brothers and aerial photography and film
f. Goddard’s rocket based camera
2. Sputnik and the start of Earth orbiting satellites
a. The first analog images of the Earth from space and their connection to weather forecasting
b. The requirements of satellites carrying cameras to study the Earth
c. Infrared imagery to provide nighttime imagery
d. Spin stabilized satellites and their limited coverage
e. Polar orbiting satellites versus geostationary satellites; video cameras in space
f. Getting satellite images to the ground
g. Problem of mapping satellite images to Earth coordinates
h. Wheel satellites and the first images of the entire Earth; first full image of the Earth weather but not synoptic.
i. The switch to 3-axis stabilized polar satellites and the introduction of radiometers for cameras for polar orbiting spacecraft
j. Introduction of spinners in geostationary orbit; the invention of the spin-scan radiometer; problem of working at 36,000 km orbit
k. Large multi-sensor platforms for polar orbit
l. Development of 3-axis stabilized for geostationary orbit, unique thermal balance problem
m. Modern sensor array for weather satellites
n. Research performed with data from weather satellites, measurement of sea surface temperature
o. Emergence of passive microwave measurements and their ability to see through cloudy atmospheres
3. Research satellites
a. Satellites for atmospheric research
b. Cloud and atmospheric water vapor sensor
c. Precipitation satellites; radar and passive microwave
d. Atmospheric gases and aerosols
e. Winds over the ocean; scatterometers versus passive microwave
f. Space weather satellites
g. Ocean satellites; emergence of satellite altimetry and gravity measurements
h. Land surface measurements; soil moisture, ecosystems, dust storms
i. Landsat and the land remote sensing law
j. Return of Landsat to NASA and research access
k. Other satellites measurements of land surface conditions; passive microwave for soil moisture
l. Polar regions; monitor sea ice and sea ice motion
m. Hyperspectral satellite systems
4. Non-US weather satellites
a. Polar orbiters, history and present status
b. Geostationary evolution from spinners to the present
c. High resolution Earth surface remote sensing
5. The emergence of commercial satellite program
a. High resolution optical imagery
b. GPS occultations and atmospheric profiling
c. Smallsats and optical sensors
d. The proliferation of small and microsatellites
e. Conflicts in the use of the electromagnetic spectrum versus 5G
6. The emergence of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Earth observations
a. Creation of both fixed wing and multi-blade copter drones
b. Lower cost vehicle navigation with GPS and attitude knowledge for image correction
c. New small sensors for these platforms; also lower power requirements
d. Applications in crop monitoring, damage assessment after natural disasters, military applications, etc.
7. Dirigibles and other airships for Earth remote sensing
a. Ability to loiter over an area while still getting very high spatial resolution
b. Combining air ships with UAVs and satellites for comprehensive mapping
8. The overall present situation combining all US and non-US research and weather satellite systems.
9. The future
a. How weather satellite system will likely evolve
b. Priorities in Earth remote sensing research
c. Problem of growing population of satellites in both geostationary and low-Earth orbits; dealing with space debris
a. The development of photography
b. The first balloon photographs of the Earth
c. Kite photography of the Earth
d. Pigeons carrying cameras
e. The Wright brothers and aerial photography and film
f. Goddard’s rocket based camera
2. Sputnik and the start of Earth orbiting satellites
a. The first analog images of the Earth from space and their connection to weather forecasting
b. The requirements of satellites carrying cameras to study the Earth
c. Infrared imagery to provide nighttime imagery
d. Spin stabilized satellites and their limited coverage
e. Polar orbiting satellites versus geostationary satellites; video cameras in space
f. Getting satellite images to the ground
g. Problem of mapping satellite images to Earth coordinates
h. Wheel satellites and the first images of the entire Earth; first full image of the Earth weather but not synoptic.
i. The switch to 3-axis stabilized polar satellites and the introduction of radiometers for cameras for polar orbiting spacecraft
j. Introduction of spinners in geostationary orbit; the invention of the spin-scan radiometer; problem of working at 36,000 km orbit
k. Large multi-sensor platforms for polar orbit
l. Development of 3-axis stabilized for geostationary orbit, unique thermal balance problem
m. Modern sensor array for weather satellites
n. Research performed with data from weather satellites, measurement of sea surface temperature
o. Emergence of passive microwave measurements and their ability to see through cloudy atmospheres
3. Research satellites
a. Satellites for atmospheric research
b. Cloud and atmospheric water vapor sensor
c. Precipitation satellites; radar and passive microwave
d. Atmospheric gases and aerosols
e. Winds over the ocean; scatterometers versus passive microwave
f. Space weather satellites
g. Ocean satellites; emergence of satellite altimetry and gravity measurements
h. Land surface measurements; soil moisture, ecosystems, dust storms
i. Landsat and the land remote sensing law
j. Return of Landsat to NASA and research access
k. Other satellites measurements of land surface conditions; passive microwave for soil moisture
l. Polar regions; monitor sea ice and sea ice motion
m. Hyperspectral satellite systems
4. Non-US weather satellites
a. Polar orbiters, history and present status
b. Geostationary evolution from spinners to the present
c. High resolution Earth surface remote sensing
5. The emergence of commercial satellite program
a. High resolution optical imagery
b. GPS occultations and atmospheric profiling
c. Smallsats and optical sensors
d. The proliferation of small and microsatellites
e. Conflicts in the use of the electromagnetic spectrum versus 5G
6. The emergence of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Earth observations
a. Creation of both fixed wing and multi-blade copter drones
b. Lower cost vehicle navigation with GPS and attitude knowledge for image correction
c. New small sensors for these platforms; also lower power requirements
d. Applications in crop monitoring, damage assessment after natural disasters, military applications, etc.
7. Dirigibles and other airships for Earth remote sensing
a. Ability to loiter over an area while still getting very high spatial resolution
b. Combining air ships with UAVs and satellites for comprehensive mapping
8. The overall present situation combining all US and non-US research and weather satellite systems.
9. The future
a. How weather satellite system will likely evolve
b. Priorities in Earth remote sensing research
c. Problem of growing population of satellites in both geostationary and low-Earth orbits; dealing with space debris
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: June 1, 2026
- Language: English
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William J. Emery
William (Bill) Emery worked as a professor in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado from 1987, prior to which he worked in the University of British Columbia where he created a Satellite Oceanography education/research program. He has authored over 220-refereed publications and 4 textbooks in addition to having given 200 conference papers. He is a fellow of: the IEEE (2002), the American Meteorological Society (2010), the American Astronautical Society (2011) and the American Geophysical Union (2012). He was recently elected to the IEEE TAB Hall of Honor (2020). In 2022 he received the GRSS Fawaz Ulaby Distinguised Achievement Award.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA