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Remote Sensing Rules

Event Overview

Students will use remote sensing imagery and data to complete tasks related to Earth observation, including identifying land cover types, analyzing spectral data, and interpreting changes over time.

What You'll Be Tested On

  • Map Reading: Scale calculations, coordinate systems, projections
  • Remote Sensing Fundamentals: Electromagnetic spectrum, spectral signatures, resolution types
  • Image Interpretation: Land cover classification, band combinations, false color composites
  • Index Calculations: NDVI, NDWI, and other vegetation/water indices
  • Change Detection: Comparing multi-temporal imagery
  • Applications: Agriculture, urban planning, environmental monitoring

Key Concepts

Four Types of Resolution

  • Spatial: Pixel size on ground (meters)
  • Spectral: Number and width of bands
  • Temporal: Revisit frequency (days)
  • Radiometric: Bit depth (sensitivity)

Common Spectral Bands

  • Blue: Water penetration, coastal
  • Green: Vegetation vigor peak
  • Red: Chlorophyll absorption
  • NIR: Vegetation health, water detection
  • SWIR: Moisture content, geology

Remote Sensing Practice

Settings

Section 1: Remote Sensing Toolkit

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Map Scale Calculator

Convert between representative fraction and verbal scale

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Ground Distance Calculator

Calculate real-world distance from map measurements

Resolution Types Quiz

Test your knowledge of spatial, spectral, temporal, and radiometric resolution

Map Projections Quiz

Match projections to their best uses

Section 2: Synthetic Band Data Explorer

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Explore synthetic satellite imagery. Click any cell to see its spectral values.

Single Band:

Scene View

Section 3: Index Calculation & Interpretation

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Index Formulas

NDVI (Vegetation)

NDVI = (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red)

Range: -1 to +1. Higher values = healthier vegetation

NDWI (Water)

NDWI = (Green - NIR) / (Green + NIR)

Positive values indicate water bodies

NDMI (Moisture)

NDMI = (NIR - SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR)

Indicates vegetation water content

Index Calculator

Section 4: Change Detection

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Compare two scenes to detect environmental changes.

Scene A (Before)

Scene B (After)

Mission Mode

Configure Your Mission

Complete a timed assessment mixing all remote sensing skills.

Recent Missions

No missions completed yet.

Reference Materials

Spectral Signatures by Land Cover

Land Cover Blue Green Red NIR SWIR Key Feature

Map Projections

Projection Type Preserves Best For

Resolution Types

Type Definition Units Examples

Common Indices

Index Formula Purpose Value Range
NDVI (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red) Vegetation health -1 to +1 (>0.4 = healthy)
NDWI (Green - NIR) / (Green + NIR) Water detection -1 to +1 (>0 = water)
NDMI (NIR - SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR) Moisture content -1 to +1 (higher = wetter)
NDBI (SWIR - NIR) / (SWIR + NIR) Built-up areas -1 to +1 (>0 = urban)

Scale Reference

Representative Fraction Verbal Scale Type Common Use
1:1,2001" = 100'Very LargeEngineering plans
1:24,0001" = 2,000'LargeUSGS 7.5' quad
1:50,0001" ≈ 0.79 miLargeTopographic
1:100,0001 cm = 1 kmMediumRegional planning
1:250,0001" ≈ 4 miMediumState maps
1:1,000,0001" ≈ 16 miSmallWorld atlases