Aerial remote sensing is the subfield of remote sensing concerned with collecting geospatial data about Earth's surface and atmosphere using airborne platforms—such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—equipped with non-contact sensors [1][2]. Operating beneath satellite orbital trajectories, these platforms carry passive instruments like multispectral cameras or active sensors such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to measure reflected or emitted electromagnetic radiation [2][3][4]. The distinguishing feature of aerial remote sensing lies in its spatial scale and operational flexibility; compared to satellite platforms, airborne platforms provide significantly higher spatial resolution and flexible flight scheduling, though they trade off the automated, global-scale temporal coverage characteristic of orbital systems [1][3][4]. Structurally allied with photogrammetry and geographic information systems (GIS), aerial remote sensing converts raw sensor records into georeferenced orthomosaics, digital elevation models, and point clouds [2][4]. While historically dominated by piloted photography, modern interpretations encompass multi-sensor payload integration across diverse airborne systems [1][2][3][4].
Remote Sensing and Land Use • Atmospheric Science • Earth and Planetary Sciences • Physical Sciences