Using Remote Sensing to Determine Topography

Developed by SEPUP

Scientific Concepts and Processes

• Technology, such as remote sensing, is essential to science because it provides instruments that enable observations of objects and phenomena that are otherwise unobservable.
• Scientists organize and summarize data using tables and maps.
• Science and technology are reciprocal and are often inspired by societal challenges and priorities.
• Scientists test their explanations of nature using observations and models.

Students are introduced to remote sensing through a hands-on activity that allows them to collect data about concealed landforms then use it to create visualizations of the landforms. Each student group collects data that allows them to construct a line graph showing a profile across the landform. Then the class data is combined so that students have enough data to create a false-color topographical map of the surface of the landform. This remote sensing measuring technique is related to applications in earth science, oceanography, and space science as students compare their false color map to a topographic map.

Kit Contents:

• 28 Student Worksheet and Guides
• 1 Teacher's Guide
• 12 Measuring Probes
• 6 Remote Sensing Devices
• 1 Landforms Model
• 1 Mystery Box
• 1 Platform Box
• 6 Sets of 7 colored pencils: red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and brown
• 1 Transparency 1: Height of Surface Measurements of the Planet Surface
• 1 Transparency 2: False-Color Topographic Map of the Planet Surface