Workshop on Remote Sensing and Applications

The Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, in collaboration with the IEEE SJEC Student Branch and the IEEE SJEC GRSS Chapter, organized a five-day workshop on “Remote Sensing and Applications” from December 2–6, 2025. The workshop aimed to provide participants with conceptual knowledge, technical exposure, and practical experience in the fields of Remote Sensing, GIS, Earth observation data processing, and AI/ML-based geospatial analysis.

The five-day workshop was formally inaugurated by Dr Ujjwal Verma, Associate Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, MIT, MAHE, Manipal, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his inaugural address, Dr Verma highlighted the growing importance of Remote Sensing and GIS in addressing real-world challenges related to the environment, agriculture, and urban development.

Day 1: 2 December 2025:

The installation and setup of essential geospatial software tools were completed, including QGIS for GIS analysis and Python/R for basic programming tasks. A pre-workshop feedback form was also collected from the participants to understand expectations and prior knowledge.

Day 2: 3 December 2025:

Forenoon Session:

Dr Ujjwal Verma delivered a session on “Computer Vision for Earth Observation Images: Integrating Semantic Segmentation, Anomaly Detection, and Uncertainty Quantification for Reliable Environmental Monitoring.” He explained the role of computer vision in analyzing Earth observation data from UAVs, drones, and satellites, highlighting tasks such as semantic segmentation, anomaly detection, and object identification. Dr Verma emphasized the integration of uncertainty quantification to improve reliability in environmental monitoring and demonstrated how deep learning techniques enhance accuracy and decision-making in practical geospatial applications.

Afternoon Session:

Dr Shilpa Suresh delivered a session titled “Artificial Intelligence based Approaches for Object Detection in Aerial and Satellite Imagery”.She provided an in depth introduction to the use of AI and deep learning techniques for analyzing aerial and satellite imagery, beginning with an overview of drone and satellite data sources and their differences in spatial and temporal resolution. Dr Shilpa discussed the various image types used in remote sensing, binary, grayscale, RGB, multispectral, and hyperspectral, highlighting the advantages of spectral bands beyond the visible range. She explained the fundamentals of object detection, describing it as the combination of image recognition and localization, and reviewed the evolution from region based methods to modern single stage detectors. The resource person outlined the importance of proper data handling, the training, validation, testing workflow. The session concluded with a hands-on case study on ship detection using the YOLO model in Google Colab, where she showcased how the pretrained network effectively identified and localized ships in real time, illustrating the practical power of AI in remote sensing applications.

Day 3: 4 December 2025:

Forenoon Session:

Dr Shwetha H R delivered a technical session on “Geospatial Technologies and Applications”. She provided a clear overview of geospatial technology, explaining vector and raster data, the role of GNSS, and the functioning of polar-orbiting satellites essential for global environmental monitoring. She elaborated on the applications of optical remote sensing, highlighting multispectral imaging and the importance of spatial, spectral, radiometric, and temporal resolutions. The session also introduced hyperspectral sensing for detailed crop and soil analysis. In the microwave segment, she explained how radar systems operate, emphasizing their usefulness in water resource monitoring, soil moisture estimation, and surface roughness assessment. The session provided a comprehensive understanding of how modern remote sensing technologies support effective water and agricultural resource management.

Afternoon Session:

Dr Chandan M. C. delivered a session on “Urban Flood Modelling using Remote Sensing”. The session provided in-depth insights into the use of satellite technology for water resource management and urban flood mitigation. Dr Chandan explained methods for surface and groundwater monitoring, highlighting spectral indices such as Green NDWI and Green NAR for precise water body extraction, and discussed groundwater storage and depletion. He elaborated on hydrological dynamics, including watershed delineation, water balance equations, and the distinction between hydrological and hydraulic modelling. The session also addressed urban climate and flood dynamics, emphasizing how heavy rainfall, urban heat islands, and impermeable surfaces contribute to flash floods. The workshop concluded with a hands-on QGIS exercise on flood mapping, enabling participants to visualize flood-prone areas and assess risks, effectively bridging theoretical knowledge with practical environmental applications.

Day 4: 5 December 2025:

Forenoon Session:

Dr Dayakshini delivered a session on “Signal and Image Processing for Remote Sensing”. The session highlighted the critical role of signal and image processing in converting raw sensor data into useful information. Dr Dayakshini began with an overview of remote sensing platforms, including satellites, aircraft, UAVs, and ground-based systems, and explained the distinction between active and passive sensing.  Dr Dayakshini explained spatial, spectral, and radiometric resolutions and guided participants in analyzing image histograms. Practical techniques for noise reduction were demonstrated, including Gaussian filters for Gaussian noise, median filters for salt-and-pepper noise, and high-pass filters for edge detection. Comparative demonstrations of original and processed images effectively showcased how signal and image processing enhance the clarity and usability of remote sensing data.

Afternoon Session:

Dr Hareesha B delivered a session on “Advanced Applications and Computational Tools for Remote Sensing”. The session provided an in-depth understanding of how theoretical concepts of satellite imagery can be applied using modern computational tools for practical problem-solving. Dr Hareesha began by discussing the geospatial ecosystem, highlighting automated processing of spatial data. He explained methods for data extraction and spectral analysis, emphasizing how different surface materials reflect electromagnetic energy and how spectral band combinations can reveal vegetation health, water bodies, and urbanization patterns. The workshop included a hands-on component where participants acquired high-quality satellite imagery using Google Earth Pro and performed image processing in QGIS, including creating false-color composites to interpret land features. The session successfully bridged theory and practice, equipping attendees with practical skills to source, process, and analyze satellite data for real-world applications.

Day 5: 6 December 2025

The final day of the workshop was dedicated to completing a questionnaire designed to assess understanding of the concepts and techniques covered in the previous sessions. This activity allowed attendees to consolidate their knowledge, reflect on key topics, and provide feedback on the workshop.

Overall, the workshop was a success and was well-received by the participants.