Remote sensing of sustainable ecosystems
Abstract
Ecosystems, containing biotic and abiotic elements, are complex communities that impact all aspects of the environment. Their equilibrium and sustainability are paramount to their functionality, health, and survival. Remote sensing and other advanced geospatial data acquisition and processing techniques are critical for the measurement of sustainable ecosystems. This special issue includes the latest advancements in remote sensor systems and computing platforms that have made it possible to collect data on ecosystems quickly and routinely. In particular, there is an increasing volume of multispectral and hyperspectral data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), airborne and satellite sensors. They provide rich information for mapping, monitoring, and analyzing a wide range of ecological applications. Big datasets from various remotely sensed platforms are essential for understanding the science behind ecosystem functions and thus provide critical insights on how ecosystems are sustainable.