Remote sensing of impervious surfaces: A review

Abstract

One of the emerging areas of scientific interest in the control of non‐point‐source pollution (NPS) is the detection and analysis of impervious surfaces within watersheds. NPS runoff from urban surfaces is now a leading threat to water quality and the percentage of impervious surface within a particular watershed has been recognized as a key indicator of the effects of non‐point runoff and of future water and ecosystem quality. Although the effect of land use, population and impervious surface cover on water quality has been generally known for thirty years, a basic problem exists in quantifying the detailed spatial extent and distribution of various classes of impervious surface phenomena. Remote sensing technology has been one of the primary methods for acquiring data on the impervious areas of watersheds for tax assessment, mapping and modeling applications and continues to be one of the most promising technologies for providing detailed mapping information as input into watershed‐level management decisions. This paper reviews the past use of remotely sensed data for impervious surface detection and analysis. It further explores the broader use of remote sensing technology in this area, including the potential for a new generation of instruments to improve the analysis of impervious surfaces.