Les systèmes légers de télédétection aéroportée pour les sciences de la Terre

Abstract

Satellite remote sensing, a powerful monitoring tool, often lacks the high spatial resolution and operational flexibility needed for research in Earth Sciences. In order to highlight the concept of linking ground data and remote sensing imagery, a review of tremendous recent advances in low-altitude remote sensing, as well as in supporting systems such as light airborne platforms is presented. Airborne digital photography and videography provide near real-time data at the local and regional scales. The integration of portable multi-spectral digital sensors, navigation systems and small slow-flying aircraft creates a modern do-it-yourself data acquisition tool for everyday field work and ground truthing of satellite imagery. This approach closes the existing gap between the advanced spaceborne remote sensing methods and the precise but inefficient ground studies. It is particularly advantageous for geomorphology and Earth Sciences.