PREFACE
This book was produced at the invitation of our Publishing Editor at Springer,
Petra van Steenbergen. We thank her for the invitation. It is one of a series of remote
sensing books (Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing), each of which
addresses a specific topic within the remote sensing field.
Our contribution, unlike the other books in this series, is not aimed at remote
sensing scientists. As such, there is very little optical theory in the book with the
exception of one chapter which presents in detail the optical algorithms that form the
basis of an interactive program (WASI, the “Water colour Simulator”). The program is
offered on the CD that accompanies this book, and is in association with a chapter by
Peter Gege and Andreas Albert. In this case, technical details are provided for remote
sensing scientists who are interested in the optical and theoretical bases for the
program. Remote sensing and non-remote sensing scientists alike can manipulate this
program to view the effects of various substances (pigments, sediment) on spectra. We
thank these authors for this valuable contribution.
Our main target audience consists of aquatic scientists, and managers of coastal
aquatic ecosystems. We are both involved in remote sensing at both the science and
image processing levels – Laurie is an aquatic biologist, and became versed in remote
sensing image processing techniques while employed at NASA’s Ames Research
Center, and Ells is a remote sensing scientist who actively carries out science-based
field research in support of aquatic remote sensing. Additionally, Ells has been very
involved in transferring remote sensing technology to managers in developing nations.
Thus we offer a perspective which we hope can be shared by scientists and managers.
The book is divided into three sections: Science Applications, Monitoring
Applications, and Management Applications. Each chapter of these sections was
written with the appropriate target audience in mind. Thus managers are encouraged to
review the final chapters and, if interested, can then delve into the more technical
earlier chapters. The book was also written as a resource manual for those who would
like a concise overview of specific sensors and their applicability for specific aspects of
coastal ecosystems. Again, discussions of optics and sensor development theory are
kept at a minimum.
We would like to thank our authors, who graciously accepted fitting into our
specific concept for this book. We especially would like to thank Candace Newman,
who produced the final figures for the book and Alan Lim who took on the laborious
task of the index.
Each chapter in this book was reviewed by one or both of us, as well as
anonymously by at least one of the chapter first authors.
Laurie L. Richardson
Ellsworth F. LeDrew
xvii
This book was produced at the invitation of our Publishing Editor at Springer,
Petra van Steenbergen. We thank her for the invitation. It is one of a series of remote
sensing books (Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing), each of which
addresses a specific topic within the remote sensing field.
Our contribution, unlike the other books in this series, is not aimed at remote
sensing scientists. As such, there is very little optical theory in the book with the
exception of one chapter which presents in detail the optical algorithms that form the
basis of an interactive program (WASI, the “Water colour Simulator”). The program is
offered on the CD that accompanies this book, and is in association with a chapter by
Peter Gege and Andreas Albert. In this case, technical details are provided for remote
sensing scientists who are interested in the optical and theoretical bases for the
program. Remote sensing and non-remote sensing scientists alike can manipulate this
program to view the effects of various substances (pigments, sediment) on spectra. We
thank these authors for this valuable contribution.
Our main target audience consists of aquatic scientists, and managers of coastal
aquatic ecosystems. We are both involved in remote sensing at both the science and
image processing levels – Laurie is an aquatic biologist, and became versed in remote
sensing image processing techniques while employed at NASA’s Ames Research
Center, and Ells is a remote sensing scientist who actively carries out science-based
field research in support of aquatic remote sensing. Additionally, Ells has been very
involved in transferring remote sensing technology to managers in developing nations.
Thus we offer a perspective which we hope can be shared by scientists and managers.
The book is divided into three sections: Science Applications, Monitoring
Applications, and Management Applications. Each chapter of these sections was
written with the appropriate target audience in mind. Thus managers are encouraged to
review the final chapters and, if interested, can then delve into the more technical
earlier chapters. The book was also written as a resource manual for those who would
like a concise overview of specific sensors and their applicability for specific aspects of
coastal ecosystems. Again, discussions of optics and sensor development theory are
kept at a minimum.
We would like to thank our authors, who graciously accepted fitting into our
specific concept for this book. We especially would like to thank Candace Newman,
who produced the final figures for the book and Alan Lim who took on the laborious
task of the index.
Each chapter in this book was reviewed by one or both of us, as well as
anonymously by at least one of the chapter first authors.
Laurie L. Richardson
Ellsworth F. LeDrew
xvii