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Remote sensing is a technique that has been gaining new markets and applications in recent years. This technology aims at the representation and collection of data from a given region on the Earth's surface without the need for direct contact, meaning that data is collected from the air and at a distance. In this way, all information is obtained through high-performance sensors and instruments. Remote sensing consists of the processing, storage, and analysis of the collected data, so that the phenomena existing on the monitored surface are better understood. This technique is capable of revealing geographical and even historical data of natural spaces, such as, for example, the distribution of forest areas and the progress of deforestation in a given region. This technology can also be used to track the growth of urban areas and monitor the most diverse crops and agricultural cultures, among numerous other functions. Do you want to know everything about Computer Vision? Click here and learn with this super article!
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How does remote sensing work?
The sensors used in this technology collect data by detecting energy reflected from the Earth's surface. These modern sensors can be mounted and used on satellites, airplanes, helicopters, and are currently being widely applied in drones, which have enabled excellent results. The sensors used for remote sensing can be of two types: active or passive. Passive sensors respond to external stimuli, that is, already existing information. They collect energy that is reflected or emitted by the Earth's surface. The most common source of passively detected radiation is the reflection of solar radiation. The other type, active sensors, use internal stimuli to collect surface data. For example, a sensor with a laser cannon that projects rays onto the surface and calculates the time the rays take to be reflected by the ground and return to the sensor. The information received by the sensors is processed in complex algorithms or integrated systems that generate images and data according to the user's needs.
Applications of remote sensing
This technology allows for various applications in several areas and enables numerous advantages. The most common uses of remote sensing are: • Coastal applications: monitoring changes in shorelines, controlling sediment transport, mapping the coast, and preventing erosion.
• Marine applications: monitoring ocean circulation, measuring water temperature, and wave heights. The data helps to improve the management of marine resources.
• Hazard mapping: control of hurricanes, erosion, and flooding. It allows for the assessment of natural disaster impacts and the creation of prevention strategies.
• Agricultural applications: crop monitoring, growth control, pest detection, among many others.
Remote sensing in agriculture
Remote sensing technology has great potential when applied to the agricultural sector. Through sensors and integrated systems, it is possible to obtain various information, such as: • Estimate of planted area: through images, it is possible to estimate the entire extension of the plantation, allowing for the control and monitoring of the growth of the planted area.
• Survey of the number of plants in a given area: using the images as a basis and applying modern algorithms, it is possible to know the amount of existing plants, detect areas of lower density, and optimize the plantation.
• Plant and crop health: through the different colorations of the plants in the images, it is possible to perceive those that are not developing as they should and also those that lack water and certain nutrients.
• Detection of pests in the plantation and bottlenecks in the production process: just as in monitoring plant health, through the coloration of the images, it is possible to find pests and areas of low production, allowing for the prevention of significant drops in production.
Remote sensing in agriculture can be done in the most classic way, through satellites and airplanes. However, the cost of both is quite high, which has led farmers to look for more accessible technologies.
Remote sensing and drones
Currently, the use of drones in precision agriculture for aerial crop monitoring is widely used, as it is more accessible and flexible compared to classic technologies. These small unmanned aircraft have a major advantage: unlike satellites, they can capture images regardless of weather conditions. In addition, drones allow for use whenever necessary, unlike satellites which can only be used for crop monitoring according to availability. Remote sensing is one of the technologies being applied in precision agriculture. This modern way of managing crops has provided productivity results never achieved before, while also enabling a reduction in various operating costs. Check out other amazing agricultural technologies in this post! Finally, if you want to know more about products and technological solutions applied to agriculture, get in touch with us! Pix Force wants to help you!
Fabio Caraça
Fábio Caraça is the Chief Growth Officer at Pix Force. He leads Pix Force's transformation into a scalable SaaS operation, combining strategic vision, culture, and high-impact execution.
