Summary

This work opens with the basic techniques of satellite geocoding (including the use of GPS and mosaic production) before describing a wide range of algorithms for extraction of information from optical and radar satellite images. It then moves on to address the derivation of topographic information from space (including the Shuttle Topographic Radar Mission) followed by an explanation of the added-value obtained through the integrated use of geocoded satellite data in a geographic information system (GIS). Practical commercial and scientific applications are described in detail - first looking at land applications such as agriculture and civil engineering and then at the oceanographic, atmospheric and cryospheric worlds. Jonathan Williams reviews developments in environmental monitoring and global security such as hazard and disaster monitoring, population dynamics and space missions dedicated to environmental monitoring (such as the Earth Observing System and the European ENVISAT Mission).