Remote Sensing Scientist or Technologist

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A remote sensing scientist or technologist could…

Overview Listen to this section

Have you ever climbed up high in a tree and then looked at your surroundings? You can learn a lot about your neighborhood by looking down on it. You can see who has a garden, who has a pool, who needs to water their plants, and how your neighbors live. Remote sensing scientists or technologists do a similar thing, except on a larger scale. These professionals apply the principles and methods of remote sensing (using sensors) to analyze data and solve regional, national, and global problems in areas such as natural resource management, urban planning, and climate and weather prediction. Because remote sensing scientists or technologists use a variety of tools, including radio detection and ranging (radar) and light detection and ranging (lidar), to collect data and then store the data in databases, they must be familiar with several different kinds of technologies.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Remote Sensing Scientist or Technologist?

1. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
2. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
3. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
4. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
5. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.

6. Science: ? Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
7. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
8. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
9. Mathematics: ? Using mathematics to solve problems.
10. Systems Analysis: ? Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Remote Sensing Scientist or Technologist might do:

• Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.
• Analyze data acquired from aircraft, satellites, or ground-based platforms, using statistical analysis software, image analysis software, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Integrate other geospatial data sources into projects.
• Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation.
• Compile and format image data to increase its usefulness.
• Prepare or deliver reports or presentations of geospatial project information.
• Discuss project goals, equipment requirements, or methodologies with colleagues or team members.
• Process aerial or satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps.
• Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of geographic data.
• Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information.
• Collect supporting data, such as climatic or field survey data, to corroborate remote sensing data analyses.
• Monitor quality of remote sensing data collection operations to determine if procedural or equipment changes are necessary.
• Train technicians in the use of remote sensing technology.
• Set up or maintain remote sensing data collection systems.
• Direct all activity associated with implementation, operation, or enhancement of remote sensing hardware or software.
• Attend meetings or seminars or read current literature to maintain knowledge of developments in the field of remote sensing.
• Conduct research into the application or enhancement of remote sensing technology.
• Recommend new remote sensing hardware or software acquisitions.
• Use remote sensing data for forest or carbon tracking activities to assess the impact of environmental change.
• Develop automated routines to correct for the presence of image distorting artifacts, such as ground vegetation.
• Develop new analytical techniques or sensor systems.
• Participate in fieldwork.
• Apply remote sensing data or techniques, such as surface water modeling or dust cloud detection, to address environmental issues.
• Direct installation or testing of new remote sensing hardware or software.