Books
Books and manuals included on this portal serve as foundational resources for anyone exploring the fields of geospatial technology, remote sensing, and satellite applications. These resources can help students build concepts, assist researchers in referencing core principles, and guide educators in designing curriculum or workshops—making them a vital component of the open geospatial learning ecosystem. The books on this portal cover various aspects of remote sensing, like satellite image interpretation, sensor technology, land use mapping, environmental monitoring, and integration with GIS. They provide both theoretical foundations and practical applications for learners and professionals in the geospatial field.
Books on Remote Sensing
Fundamentals and Applications of GNSS Reflectometry
Publisher Springer Nature
Year 2026
Type Open Access Book
Level Intermediate–Advanced
About
This open-access book introduces GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R), an emerging Earth observation technique that uses reflected navigation signals to study land, water and environmental processes. It covers the fundamentals of GNSS-R, observation systems, data processing and applications in Earth observation.
Cloud-Based Remote Sensing with Google Earth Engine: Fundamentals and Applications
Publisher Springer Nature
Type Open Access Academic Book
Level Beginner to Advanced
About
This comprehensive open-access book provides a practical introduction to cloud-based remote sensing using Google Earth Engine. It includes 55 chapters covering programming, image interpretation, classification, time-series analysis, change detection, and a wide range of Earth observation applications. Suitable for students, researchers, educators, and professionals working with large-scale satellite datasets.
Geographic Information Systems – Data Science Approach
Publisher IntechOpen
Year 2024
Type Open Access Book
Level Intermediate–Advanced
About
This open-access book explores the intersection of Geographic Information Systems and data science. It covers spatial data analysis, advanced GIS methodologies, real-world applications, and emerging approaches to working with geographic data.
Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
Publisher Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada
Type Educational PDF
Level Beginner to Intermediate
About A foundational open-access textbook that introduces key concepts in remote sensing, including electromagnetic radiation, sensors, platforms, image interpretation, and classification techniques. Suitable for students, educators, and early-career professionals in Earth observation and geospatial fields
Principles of Remote Sensing
Publisher ITC (Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation), University of Twente
Type Educational PDF / Textbook
Level Intermediate to Advanced
About This comprehensive textbook provides an in-depth understanding of remote sensing principles, technologies, and data interpretation methods. With clear explanations, illustrations, and examples, it is well-suited for university-level courses and independent study. It covers topics like electromagnetic radiation, image acquisition, preprocessing, and thematic mapping.
Fundamentals of Remote Sensing: History and Practice
Publisher National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Type Educational PDF / Academic Reference
Level Intermediate to Advanced
About This book presents a detailed overview of the evolution and current practices in remote sensing, with an emphasis on satellite-based Earth observation. It highlights both the historical context and technological advancements, making it a useful academic resource for researchers, students, and professionals involved in space science and geospatial studies
Introduction to Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System
Publisher Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Sciences, Lund University
Type Educational PDF/Lecture Notes
Level Undergraduate to Graduate
About This comprehensive guide introduces the principles of remote sensing and GIS, covering topics such as the history of remote sensing, electromagnetic radiation, satellite sensor systems, image preprocessing, and both raster and vector GIS techniques.
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Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS
Publisher Bangladesh Forest Department
Type Training Manual / PDF
Level Advanced
About This manual provides in-depth guidance on advanced remote sensing and GIS techniques tailored for forest management and environmental monitoring. It covers topics such as land use and land cover mapping, image classification, and spatial analysis, with a focus on practical applications in Bangladesh’s forest sector. The resource is designed to enhance the capacity of professionals and practitioners in utilizing geospatial technologies for sustainable forest management.
Remote Sensing Handbook
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Type Academic Textbook
Level Advanced
About This volume offers comprehensive coverage of remote sensing science, focusing on the characterization, classification, and accuracy assessment of remotely sensed data. It discusses data normalization and harmonization, uncertainties of remote sensing products, and the integration of advanced methods such as machine learning and cloud computing.
Exploring Remote Sensing Methods and Applications
Publisher IntechOpen
Type Open Access Edited Volume
Level
Intermediate to Advanced
About This book, edited by Rifaat M. Abdalla, presents a wide range of remote sensing methods and their practical applications across different fields such as environment, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, and urban planning. It combines theory and practice, offering insights into emerging technologies and innovative solutions.
Environmental Applications of Remote Sensing
Publisher IntechOpen
Type Edited Academic Volume
Level Intermediate to Advanced
About This open-access volume presents a wide range of environmental applications using remote sensing technologies. It covers topics like coastal monitoring, land cover change, environmental modeling, and disaster assessment. The book offers theoretical background along with practical case studies.
Remote Sensing of Plant Biodiversity
Publisher Springer Nature (Open Access)
Type Edited Academic Volume
Level Intermediate to Advanced
About This open-access volume brings together leading researchers to establish a common framework for detecting and evaluating plant biodiversity using remote and proximal sensing techniques. It covers theoretical foundations—linking spectral diversity to plant functional traits and phylogeny—and practical methods such as hyperspectral imaging and LiDAR for biodiversity assessment across scales. Download
Books on Geographical Information System (GIS)
Introduction to GIS with QGIS
Publisher Brown University Library
Type Open Educational Resource / QGIS Tutorial
Level Beginner to Intermediate
About
This practical guide introduces Geographic Information Systems using QGIS, a free and open-source GIS platform. It covers GIS concepts, data preparation, spatial analysis, geoprocessing, and thematic map creation. The resource is designed for self-directed learning as well as classroom instruction.
Knowledge Cartography for Young Thinkers: Sustainability Issues, Mapping Techniques and AI Tools
Publisher: Springer Nature
Type: Open Access Academic Book
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
About:
This open-access book explores contemporary approaches to mapping and knowledge visualisation, connecting mapping techniques with sustainability, critical thinking, education, and artificial intelligence tools. It provides practical examples and case studies showing how mapping can support learning, decision-making, and engagement with real-world sustainability challenges.
Spatial Methods in Transdisciplinarity for Urban Sustainability: A Transformative Methodological Spectrum
Publisher Springer Nature
Year 2025
Type Open Access Book
Level Intermediate–Advanced
About
This open-access book explores spatial methods for addressing complex urban sustainability challenges. It connects spatial analysis with transdisciplinary research, urban planning and sustainable development, providing approaches for understanding and addressing complex urban issues.
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Decide Better: Open and Interoperable Local Digital Twins
Publisher Springer Nature
Year 2025
Type Open Access Book
Level Advanced
About
This open-access book explores open and interoperable digital twins for local and urban decision-making. It examines how geospatial data, digital models and interoperable technologies can support planning, management and evidence-based decision-making.
Volunteered Geographic Information: Interpretation, Visualization and Social Context
Publisher: Springer Nature
Year: 2024
Type: Open Access Book
Level: Intermediate–Advanced
About
This open-access book examines Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), including crowdsourced geographic data, geovisualisation and user interaction. It also explores the social and human dimensions of geographic information and how VGI can be represented, analysed and interpreted.
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GIS and Spatial Analysis
Publisher IntechOpen
Year 2023
Type Open Access Book
Level: Intermediate–Advanced
About:
This book introduces spatial analysis methods used in GIS, including spatial patterns, relationships between geographic variables, spatial modelling, uncertainty and real-world applications.
Download: Download / View Book – IntechOpen
Sustainable Development Goals Connectivity Dilemma: Land and Geospatial Information for Urban and Rural Resilience
Publisher Taylor & Francis / CRC Press
Year 2019
Type Open Access Book
Level Intermediate–Advanced
About
This open-access book examines the role of land and geospatial information in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It explores the connections between geospatial information, urban and rural resilience, sustainable development, disaster risk reduction and environmental management.
GIS in Sustainable Urban Planning and Management: A Global Perspective
Publisher: Taylor & Francis / CRC Press
Year: 2017
Type: Open Access Book
Level: Intermediate–Advanced
About
This open-access book explores the use of GIS and geo-information in sustainable urban planning and management. It covers spatial analysis, urban development, sustainability assessment, climate change, natural hazards and urban resilience through practical case studies from different parts of the world.
Books on Google Earth Engine
Cloud-Based Remote Sensing with Google Earth Engine
Publisher Springer Nature
Type Academic Book
Level Intermediate to Advanced
About This book introduces cloud-based geospatial analysis using Google Earth Engine, a powerful platform for analyzing vast remote sensing datasets. It includes detailed tutorials, applications in land cover, deforestation, urban growth, and climate studies, making it useful for both researchers and educators. It emphasizes hands-on learning with JavaScript and Earth Engine’s web interface. Download
Introduction to Google Earth Engine and Sentinel-2 Imagery
Publisher EAMENA (Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa) Project
Type Training Manual / Educational Resource
Level Beginner to Intermediate
About
This guide introduces users to Google Earth Engine (GEE) for working with Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. It covers the basics of using GEE’s JavaScript interface, accessing Sentinel-2 datasets, and performing fundamental remote sensing tasks such as image visualization and classification.