Remote Sensing Handbook, Volume VI

Dr. Prasad S. Thenkabail, Senior Scientist (ST), United States Geological Survey (USGS), is a world-recognized expert in remote sensing science with major contributions in the field for nearly 40 years. He has made the list of the world’s top 1% of scientists across 22 scientific fields and 176 sub-fields. Dr. Thenkabail has conducted pioneering research in hyperspectral remote sensing of vegetation, global croplands, and their water use for food security. He obtained his PhD from the Ohio State University in 1992 and has 168 peer-reviewed publications including 15 books, including this six-volume set, and over 15 major data releases such as the Landsat-derived global cropland extent product @ 30m and Landsat-derived rainfed and irrigated cropland area product @ 30 m (LGRIP30). He was recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) in 2023. His scientific papers have won several awards for demonstrating world-class, highest-quality research. He was a Landsat Science Team Member (2007-2011).

The chapters in Remote Sensing Handbook are written by leading remote sensing scientists of the world and ably edited by Prasad S. Thenkabail, Senior Scientist, at U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Flagstaff, Arizona. The importance and the value of the Remote Sensing Handbook is clearly demonstrated by the need for a second edition. The Remote Sensing Handbook (First Edition, Volumes I-III) was published in 2014 and now after 10 years Remote Sensing Handbook, Second Edition, (Volumes I-VI) with 91 Chapters and nearly 3500 pages will be published. It is certainly monumental work in remote sensing science and for this I want to compliment Dr. Prasad Thenkabail. Remote sensing is now important to a large number of scientific disciplines beyond our community, and I recommend the Remote Sensing Handbook, Second Edition, Six Volume Set, to not only remote sensers but to the entire scientific community.Dr. Compton Jim Tucker, Senior Scientist, Hydrospheric and Biospheric Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), USAIt is not often that a Remote Sensing ‘Handbook’ containing rich and diverse contributions from some of the best researchers worldwide is compiled and published. So please take note that The Remote Sensing Handbook, Second Edition, edited by Dr Prasad S. Thenkabail has landed. This book contains everything you need to know to become a remote sensing scientist. The principles, the different wavelengths, the considerations to take into account for cloud processing, calibration and validation considerations and all the domain application areas you can possibly consider; some of which I was not even aware of, are all in there. Chapters of the book delve into topics such as space law and data for policy applications. Thank you to the authors for their contributions and commitment to ensure that this book becomes a very useful resource for researchers and students as the subject of Remote Sensing moves ahead with great pace into the 2nd quarter of the 21st Century.Prof. Kevin J. Tansey, Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Remote Sensing and Professor of Remote Sensing, University of Leicester, UKThis six-volume, Second Edition of the Remote Sensing Handbook provides a collection of chapters covering the gamut of remote sensing topics and applications. The chapters are written by many well-known members of the international remote sensing community, offering diverse perspectives on this rapidly developing discipline. The Handbook will be useful for students and practitioners alike. This compilation is a major undertaking and I congratulate Dr. Prasad Thenkabail on its completion.Prof. Chris Justice, University of Maryland College Park, USADr. Thenkabail and his colleagues do a brilliant job of condensing nearly 60 years of research and developments in remote sensing into a six-volume compendium. Interested in remote sensing, invest in this handbook!Dr. Ramakrishna Nemani, Senior Earth scientist with the Advanced Supercomputing division at NASA Ames Research Center (retired), and Chief Developed of NASA Earth Exchange (NEX) platformThe second edition of the Remote Sensing Handbook is an impressive collection of 91 chapters in 6 volumes written by some of the best known and most active remote sensing scientists of our time. It is a vast expansion from its first edition of 3 volumes in 2015 and comprehensively covers all the major fields of remote sensing science, including sensors, image processing, information retrieval and a wide range of applications to ecology, agriculture, forestry, urban environment, water resources, climate change, etc. It allows students, scientists, professionals and practitioners to catch up with the rapid development in remote sensing technology, methodology and applications over the past decade. Dr. Prasad S. Thenkabail, a world-renowned remote sensing scientist, is highly commended for undertaking the daunting task of formulating and editing this large collection as the sole editor-in-chief. His 40-year experience in various remote sensing fields makes him well suited for this task.Dr. Jing M. Chen, Editors-in-Chief of Remote Sensing of Environment, Professor, CRC, FRSC, University of Toronto, Canada

• Part I: Droughts and Drylands. 1. Drought Monitoring Using Vegetation Health Indices. 2. Studies using Space-derived Vegetation and Biophysical Products: A Global Perspective. 3. Remote Sensing of Drought: Satellite-Based Monitoring Tools for the United States. 4. Regional Drought Monitoring Based on Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing. 5. Land Degradation Assessment and Monitoring of Drylands. Part II: Disasters. 6. Disasters: Risk Assessment, Management and Post-Disaster Studies Using Remote Sensing. 7. Humanitarian Emergencies: Causes, Traits and Impacts as Observed by Remote Sensing. Part III: Volcanoes. 8. Remote Sensing of Volcanoes. Part IV: Fires. 9. Satellite-derived Nitrogen Dioxide Variations from Biomass Burning in a Subtropical Evergreen Forest, Northeast India. 10. Remote Sensing-Based Mapping and Monitoring of Coal Fires. Part V: Urban. 11. Urban Growth and Climatic Mapping of Mega Cities: Multi-Sensor Approach. 12. High-Resolution Remote Sensing and Visibility Analysis Method for Smart Environment Design. Part VI: Nightlights. 13. Nighttime Light Remote Sensing -- Monitoring Human Societies from Outer Space. Part VII: Summary and Synthesis for Volume VI. 14. Remote Sensing Handbook, Volume VI: Droughts, Disasters, Pollution, and Urban Mapping.