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Lesson context: To encourage students' interest in KaAMS, they are given an opportunity to participate in the actual data collection process. The goal of this lesson is for students to develop an understanding of remote sensing data collection while taking part in the kite aerial photography activity. During this lesson, students are prompted to think about how the data can be collected using airborne remote sensing aircraft. Then, students work in groups to make an kite aerial photography rig, plan a remote sensing mission, and practice flying the kite before conducting the actual data collection mission. The activity ends with students flying their kite, developing film, and analyzing data images. Students are asked to identify the relationship between kite aerial photography and an actual KaAMS remote sensing mission. 

Key science concepts:

• The design, construction, use, and analysis of a real remote sensing system using kite aerial photography

• Science technology and instruments: remote sensing image processing 

Links to teacher resources:

• Kite Aerial Photography
• NIH Image: CIPE - Center for Image Processing in Education

Problems addressed in this lesson:

• What preparation is necessary prior to collecting airborne remote sensing data? 
• What steps are taken to plan an airborne remote sensing mission?

Activity bursts:

• How to build a rig
• Planning to fly a kite aerial photography mission

Links to other resources: