This is the first module in my Photo Interpretation and Remote Sensing course (GIS 4035). In this lab, we were introduced to the fundamental visual elements used in aerial image interpretation: tone, texture, shape, size, shadow, pattern, and association.
I’ll be honest — it’s been a difficult few weeks. I recently lost my father, and between travel, family matters, and everything that comes with that kind of loss, I’ve fallen behind on my coursework. I’m still catching up, and it’s taking a lot of focus to get back on track, but I will catch up. My dad always encouraged me to finish what I started, and that’s what I’m doing.
Despite the challenges, this first module really helped me reconnect with the learning process. I created two map layouts to demonstrate what I’ve learned:
-
Exercise 1: Identifying variations in tone (brightness) and texture (roughness or smoothness) in an aerial photograph.
-
Exercise 2: Recognizing different objects and land features based on shape, size, shadow, pattern, and association.
Exercise 3: Comparing true color and false color infrared (CIR) imagery to observe how vegetation, water, and built features reflect light differently across spectral bands.
Both exercises opened my eyes to how much information you can interpret from a single aerial image once you understand what to look for.
I’m proud of the progress I’ve made so far, and this module reminded me that even when life gets heavy, continuing to learn and create is one of the best ways to move forward.
