Texas A&M University	Spatial Sciences Laboratory
Introduction: What is remote sensing and why should I care? Objectives:       (1) to understand the concept behind remote sensing                         (2) to be able to define “remote sensing”                         (3) to be able to list at least 3 real-world applications for remote sensing Materials:         teacher’s desk with several items laying on desk, 3 pictures (Infra-red satellite image of Hurricane Wilma linked here, Natural-color image of New Orleans days after Hurricane Katrina linked here, Infra-red image of USA at night linked here) Definitions:        Nadir- the point directly below the observer (the remote sensing platform) Map- a simplified representation or model of the real world Spatial- of space, distributed across space or an area, specific to location                         Remote Sensing- the measurement or acquisition of information of some property of an object                         or phenomenon, by a recording device that is not in physical or close contact with the object or                         phenomenon under study (as defined by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing) Lesson Plan:     (1) Ask students to draw a picture of the teacher’s desk on a piece of scrap paper, collect pictures                         (2) Ask students to redraw the picture while standing around the teacher’s desk and looking down at it, collect pictures                          (3) Discuss the angle at which the pictures are presented, ie some may be from the side view while others are from above, use 1 or 2 collected pictures as examples: What information is given from the picture from above, or nadir, that is not given from the side view?  How can the information from the two sources be used differently?  What uses could the map from above have, ie help teacher to find things on the desk?  Do humans constantly think in terms of mental maps?  Do we see the world in spatial terms?                         (4) Give definition of remote sensing.  Ask students if the process by which they drew the pictures could be “remote sensing”?                         (5) Print out the 3 pictures and show to students.  Ask students how these remotely sensed images could help solve problems in the real world. (All images were obtained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- NOAA)