Remote Sensing Technicians

Remote sensing is a relatively recent industry, emerging since the invention and development of flight. Early remote sensing methods could be seen in the use of messenger pigeons, kites, and unmanned balloons to relay and collect information from remote locations. World War I saw the first consistent use of aerial photography to gather images and information for military surveillance and operations. By the late 1900s satellites had been developed for scientific studies on a global scale, to gather data for environmental research as well as commercial and military purposes.

Many different fields use remote sensing to collect and analyze information about certain areas and objects from off-site locations. This information is collected from satellite systems or aircraft-based systems, as well as ground-based systems. Today remote sensing technicians work in fields such as agriculture, land surveying, geography, oceanography, ecology, geology, hydrology, glaciology, among others, for private enterprises, environmental organizations, government agencies, and the military.