In this study, optical and microwave satellite observations are integrated to estimate soil moisture at the same spatial resolution as the optical sensors (5km here) and applied for drought analysis in the continental United States. A new refined model is proposed to include auxiliary data like soil texture, topography, surface types, accumulated precipitation, in addition to Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) used in the traditional universal triangle method. It is found the new proposed soil moisture model using accumulated precipitation demonstrated close agreements with the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) spatial patterns. Currently, the USDM is providing a weekly map. Recently, “flash” drought concept appears. To obtain drought map on daily basis, LST is derived from microwave observations and downscaled to the same resolution as the thermal infrared LST product and used to fill the gaps due to clouds in optical LST data. With the integrated daily LST available under nearly all weather conditions, daily soil moisture can be estimated at relatively higher spatial resolution than those traditionally derived from passive microwave sensors, thus drought maps based on soil moisture anomalies can be obtained on daily basis and made the flash drought analysis and monitoring become possible.

Remote sensing technologies have revolutionized forestry analysis by providing valuable information about forest ecosystems on a large scale. This review article explores the latest advancements in remote sensing tools that leverage optical, thermal, RADAR, and LiDAR data, along with state-of-the-art methods of data processing and analysis. We investigate how these tools, combined with artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and cloud-computing facilities, enhance the analytical outreach and offer new insights in the fields of remote sensing and forestry disciplines. The article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these advancements, discuss their potential applications, and highlight the challenges and future directions. Through this examination, we demonstrate the immense potential of integrating remote sensing and AI to revolutionize forest management and conservation practices.

Integrated Resource Management plays a crucial role in sustainable development by ensuring efficient allocation and utilization of natural resources. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) have emerged as powerful tools for collecting, analyzing, and managing spatial data, enabling comprehensive and integrated decision-making processes. This review article uniquely focuses on Integrated Resource Management (IRM) and its role in sustainable development. It specifically examines the application of RS and GIS in IRM across various resource management domains. The article stands out for its comprehensive coverage of the benefits, challenges, and future directions of this integrated approach.

Objective: to achieve accurately and rapidly the mapping of agricultural land use and crop distribution at the township scale. Methods: this study, based on specific methods, such as, time-series remote sensing index threshold classification and maximum likelihood, classifies each land use type and extracts crop spatial information, under the guidance of Sentinel-2A remote sensing images, to carry out agricultural land use mapping at township scale. And the mapping concerned will be verified by comparing with an agricultural spatial information map of a 0.5 m resolution, which is based on WorldVieW-2 fused images. Results: (1) the area accuracy of grain and oil crop land, vegetable land, agricultural facilities land and garden land is fairly good, with 92.93%, 98.98%, 95.71% and 95.14% respectively, and within 8% variation from actual area; (2) the spatial information of plot boundary, farmland road network, and canal network produced by OSM road data and historical high-resolution images was overlayed with the classification results of Sentinel-2A multi-spectral image for mapping, which can improve the accuracy of plot boundary information of classification results for the image with 10 m resolution. Conclusions: the use of multi-source information fusion method, agricultural land use and crop distribution space big data produced by Sentinel-2A optical image, can effectively improve the accuracy and timeliness of land use mapping at the township scale, to provide technical reference for the application of remote sensing big data to carry out agricultural landscape analysis at the township scale, optimization and adjustment of agricultural structure, etc.

This article explored mineral resources and their relation to structural settings in the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt. Integration of remote sensing (RS) with aeromagnetic (AMG) data was conducted to generate a mineral predictive map. Several image transformation and enhancement techniques were performed to Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data. Using band ratios and oriented principal component analysis (PCA) on OLI data allowed delineating hydrothermal alteration zones (HAZs) and highlighted structural discontinuity. Moreover, processing of the AMG using Standard Euler deconvolution and residual magnetic anomalies successfully revealed the subsurface structural features. Zones of hydrothermal alteration and surface/subsurface geologic structural density maps were combined through GIS technique. The results showed a mineral predictive map that ranked from very low to very high probability. Field validation allowed verifying the prepared map and revealed several mineralized sites including talc, talc-schist, gold mines and quartz veins associated with hematite. Overall, integration of RS and AMG data is a powerful technique in revealing areas of potential mineralization involved with hydrothermal processes.

In light of swift urbanization and the lack of precise land use maps in urban regions, comprehending land use patterns becomes vital for efficient planning and promoting sustainable development. The objective of this study is to assess the land use pattern in order to catalyze sustainable township development in the study area. The procedure adopted involved acquiring the cadastral layout plan of the study area, scanning, and digitizing it. Additionally, satellite imagery of the area was obtained, and both the cadastral plan and satellite imagery were geo-referenced and digitized using ArcGIS 9.2 software. These processes resulted in reasonable accuracy, with a root mean square (RMS) error of 0.002 inches, surpassing the standard of 0.004 inches. The digitized cadastral plan and satellite imagery were overlaid to produce a layered digital map of the area. A social survey of the area was conducted to identify the specific use of individual plots. Furthermore, a relational database system was created in ArcCatalog to facilitate data management and querying. The research findings demonstrated the approach's effectiveness in enabling queries for the use of any particular plot, making it adaptable to a wide range of inquiries. Notably, the study revealed the diverse purposes for which different plots were utilized, including residential, commercial, educational, and lodging. An essential aspect of land use mapping is identifying areas prone to risks and hazards, such as rising sea levels, flooding, drought, and fire. The research contributes to sustainable township development by pinpointing these vulnerable zones and providing valuable insights for urban planning and risk mitigation strategies. This is a valuable resource for urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions to optimize land use and promote sustainable development in the study area.