Satellite remote sensing : an introduction /

Among a growing list of introductory titles on remote sensing, this book's claim to uniqueness is its emphasis on satellite imagery and programs. Unfortunately, it ignores an aspect important to most other texts-materials that provide links between low- and high-altitude aerial photographs and space imagery-that may be of value to novices. Harris's organization resembles Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment, ed. by Benjamin F. Richason Jr. (2nd ed., 1983) rather than the technically more sophisticated Thomas M. Lilles and Ralph W. Kiefer's Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation (2nd ed., 1987; 1st ed., CH, Apr '80). Floyd F. Sabins's Remote Sensing: Principles and Interpretation (2nd ed., 1987), a lavishly illustrated text, achieves good balance among general, technical, and applications discussions, while comparing the advantages of various kinds of devices. Robert K. Holz's The Surveillant Science (2nd ed., 1985; 1st ed., CH, Dec '73) is a well-coordinated collection of readings, strong in technical matters, that suffers from the author's particularistic foci. Harris's book offers discussions that compare favorably with the others, but lacks illustrative and technical materials. Its strength lies in its attention to gathering data on the ground in support of satellite image use, and its examples of European applications. Upper-division students.-C.E. Tiedemann, University of Illinois at Chicago