How can remote sensing monitor Civil Engineering structures over time?

1 Remote sensing methods

There are different types of remote sensing methods, depending on the source and nature of the electromagnetic radiation used to capture the data. Some of the most common ones are optical, thermal, radar, and lidar. Optical remote sensing uses visible and near-infrared light to produce images of the earth's surface, which can reveal details such as land cover, vegetation, and water quality. Thermal remote sensing measures the infrared radiation emitted by objects, which can indicate their temperature, heat loss, or moisture content. Radar remote sensing uses radio waves to penetrate clouds, fog, and vegetation, and reflect off the target, which can reveal its shape, texture, and distance. Lidar remote sensing uses laser pulses to measure the distance and elevation of objects, which can create high-resolution 3D models of the terrain, buildings, and bridges.

3 Remote sensing techniques

For civil engineering purposes, different techniques can be used to analyze remote sensing data and extract useful information. Photogrammetry is a science that measures and interprets the geometry and features of objects from photographs or images, and can create 2D or 3D models of the earth's surface or structures. Image processing is the manipulation and enhancement of images to improve their quality, visibility, and interpretation, while image analysis is the extraction and classification of information from images based on their spectral, spatial, or temporal characteristics. All of these techniques can be used to identify, quantify, compare land cover, vegetation, water, or structures in the images, as well as detect changes, trends, or events over time.

5 Here’s what else to consider

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