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Earth Observation Technologies: Comparison
Please note this is a comparison between Version 2 by Encyclopedia Editorial Office and Version 1 by Encyclopedia Editorial Office.

Earth observation technologies refer to the technologies, systems, and technical infrastructures used to acquire, transmit, process, analyze, and disseminate information about the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, oceans, and associated environmental processes. Earth observation relies substantially on remote sensing, particularly observations made by sensors carried on satellites and other platforms, but the technological domain extends beyond individual sensors or satellite imagery [1][2]. Contemporary Earth observation technologies include passive and active sensing systems operating across different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, with optical and microwave sensors providing observations of terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceanic phenomena at different spatial and temporal scales [1]. The development of these technologies has progressively increased the range, resolution, frequency, and application-specific capabilities of Earth observation systems [3]. Earth observation technologies also encompass the technological infrastructure required to make observational data usable, including data transmission, storage, calibration, processing, and computational analysis [1]. With the rapid growth of Earth observation data, cloud computing, distributed databases, web services, and other large-scale computational platforms have become important components of the technological environment for managing, accessing, processing, and analyzing Earth observation datasets [4]. Consequently, Earth observation technologies can be understood as an integrated technological system extending from sensing and observation platforms to data infrastructure and analytical methods. Their development supports systematic observation and monitoring of environmental and geographic processes and provides increasingly extensive data resources for Earth-system research and geospatial applications [2][3].

  • remote sensing
  • in-situ monitoring
  • earth system science
  • satellite observation
  • spatial data analysis
  • environmental monitoring

Remote Sensing and Land Use • Atmospheric Science • Earth and Planetary Sciences • Physical Sciences

References

  1. Wenxue Fu; Jianwen Ma; Pei Chen; Fang Chen. Remote Sensing Satellites for Digital Earth; Springer Nature: Durham, NC, United States, 2019; pp. 55-123. [CrossRef]
  2. Huadong Guo; Wenxue Fu; Guang Liu. Scientific Satellite and Moon-Based Earth Observation for Global Change; Springer Nature: Durham, NC, United States, 2019. [CrossRef]
  3. Yashon O. Ouma; Advancements in medium and high resolution Earth observation for land-surface imaging: Evolutions, future trends and contributions to sustainable development. Adv. Space Res. 2016, 57, 110-126. [CrossRef]
  4. Vitor C. F. Gomes; Gilberto R. Queiroz; Karine R. Ferreira; An Overview of Platforms for Big Earth Observation Data Management and Analysis. Remote Sens. 2020, 12, 1253. [CrossRef]
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