The book Remote Sensing of the Environment: A Perspective on Natural Resources introduces the reader to the characteristics of electromagnetic radiation and how energy interacts with the materials on the Earth's surface such as vegetation, soil, rocks, water bodies, and urban infrastructure.

It examines how the electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted by these materials is recorded using various remote sensing instruments (e.g., cameras, multispectral scanners, hyperspectral sensors, radar, LIDAR) and how biophysical or land use/cover information can be extracted from remote sensing data to address important issues.

The 15 chapters of the book present: the definitions of Remote Sensing of the Environment, the principles of electromagnetic radiation, the history of aerial photography and aerial platforms, aerial photography (optical angles, cameras, filters, and film), elements of image optical interpretation, photogrammetry, multispectral remote sensing systems, thermal infrared remote sensing, active and passive microwave remote sensing, LIDAR remote sensing, vegetation remote sensing, water body remote sensing, urban landscape and land cover types, mineral and geomorphological remote sensing, as well as field measurements of reflectance.