PhD in Remote Sensing Course, Jobs, Syllabus 2024

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PhD in remote sensing is a doctoral degree that can be pursued by aspirants who wish to build their career in remote sensing technology and being of assistance in professions such as geology and satellite manufacturing and development, surveying and mapping.

PhD in remote sensing offers expertise of remote sensing technology which is widely used and acknowledged in professions that require extensive field and research work.

Admissions to this course program are generally based upon the scores of prior examinations, a master's degree is necessary for pursuing doctorate in this particular course program, certain colleges also offer entrance tests to allot seats to students who wish to build their career in remote sensing.

The average course fee for this course ranges around INR 12000-3.3 lakhs and offers extensive curriculum on various technology advancements and study of remote sensing and GIS to have exceptional career opportunities in many related fields.

Students can pursue teaching once through with their course program and can also contribute their expertise as Geological scientists, satellites developers, surveyors and mappers.

PhD in remote sensing has a wide expanse of professional avenues where students can explore many probable options suitable according to their preferences.

Students can venture in the field of geology, Archaeology, mapping, cartography, Satellite and space communication as well as Defense and research department.

Table of Content

PhD in Remote Sensing: Course Highlights
PhD in Remote Sensing: What is it About?
Why opt for a PhD in Remote Sensing?
PhD in Remote Sensing Admission Process

4.1 Eligibility

4.2 Entrance Exams

PhD in Remote Sensing Syllabus

5.1 Recommended Books

PhD in Remote Sensing Job prospects

6.1 Future Prospects

PhD in Remote Sensing FAQs

PhD in Remote Sensing: Course Highlights

Course type	Doctoral
Full form	Doctor of philosophy in remote sensing
Duration	3-5 years
Eligibility	Master’s degree in the relevant field with 50%
Area concerned	Remote sensing
Admission process	Master's degree/ UGC NET/CET
Course fee	INR 12000-3.3 lakhs
Average Salary	INR 21000-35000
Top recruiting agencies	Data collection, planning, and management, security, resource extraction geology, mapping, and cartography
Job positions	Remote sensing specialist, Satellite engineer, Data analyzer, GIS executive, Professor, Surveyor

PhD in Remote Sensing: What is it About?

Doctoral program in remote sensing is a program that centers on the developing technology of remote sensing which is exclusively used in industries such as Defense and mapping, surveying and archaeological expeditions.

Remote sensing technology is extensively used in development of high end satellites and their manufacturing to establish connection with the components of space and allow the research to flow with ease.
Remote sensing is also employed by geologists and Archaeologists to unearth the physical tangible sources hidden beneath the earth to know more about the earth's natural surface and knowledge about its deeply hidden abundance and resources.
Remote sensing technology is fairly new and has been in constant evolution as the technology has now been expanding to other professionals arenas where this technology has proven immensely beneficial.
Students well versed with remote sensing know-how can work in a number of highly appealing professions such as Defense sector and space technology, as well as Geology and archaeology.
Students can become high end scientists and can aid in developing Satellite fluent with remote sensing advancement that can provide assistance in knowledge of various aspects of space and the universe.
Remote sensing is also beneficial in surveying and mapping from a geological point of view where geologists employ equipment with this technology to locate abundant minerals and natural rock formations for their study of archaeological expeditions to use remote sensing technology to unearth hidden civilizations and cultures.

Why opt for a PhD in Remote Sensing?

Doctorate in remote sensing technology is an advanced step towards a better secure future because this technology has been recently introduced to many new professionals due to its exceptional monitoring capabilities.

Students undergoing PhD in remote sensing can easily become teachers and lecturers in advanced scientific research institutes and guide other students and aspirants to work in this field.
Students can also contribute their efforts in building space technology using remote sensing technology and integration of such resource into manufacturing capable and durable satellites
Candidates can also assist geologists by working as scientists working on surveying minerals and rocks, investigating hidden ores and stones for further research using this technology.
Candidates can also become successful engineers where they can create and venture into independent projects and can further develop new remote sensing equipment to aid and assist other industries.
Candidates can also develop tools that might deem beneficial to Archaeologists in terms of mapping and finding hidden treasures using remote sensing technology.
Candidates can also work as data analyzer and GIS experts and assist in carrying out surveys and data interpretation.

What is the PhD in Remote Sensing Admission Process?

Candidates and aspirants who wish to pursue this course program require a master's degree in the related or relevant discipline with a minimum score of 55% in order to attain admission in the program.

The candidates also are required to clear the UGC NET exam or additional CET exams conducted by different universities and colleges in India to get admitted in the course program.

Also check, top PhD colleges in India

What is the Ph.D. in Remote Sensing Eligibility?

Candidates should have a master's degree with a minimum score of 50% from a recognized board of certification.

Candidates should also have cleared any additional CET exams or UGC NET exams to study Ph.D. in remote sensing as a full-time course.
After declaration of the entrance exam results, students may proceed further with their admission process and get admitted in the program.

Which Ph.D. in Remote Sensing Entrance Exams are Held in India?

University grants commission or UGC conducts an exam called UGC NET or national entrance test for students who wish to study further and get their doctoral degree in various courses. UGC NET is conducted twice a year in computer based mode.

The exam pattern consists of two papers consisting of teaching aptitude, logical and analytical skills, reasoning and basic maths with a combination of subjects based questions.

Name of the Exam	Application Date	Announcement of results
UGC NET (June Session)	March 2024 – April 2024	June 10-21, 2024

What is the PhD in Remote Sensing Syllabus?

Research methodology
Development in Remote Sensing and GIS
Research paper writing
Remote sensing satellites
Cartography & GPS
Image interpretation
Presentation and Report
Viva-voce + Field research/training
Thesis report and Seminar

PhD in Remote Sensing Recommended Books

Name of the Book	Name of the Author
Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation,	Lillesand M. Thomas and Ralph W. Kiefer, (2007)
Remote Sensing for Land Resources Planning, Concept Publishing	Sharma V.K
Information Technology - The Breaking Wave	Dennis P. Curtin, Kim Foley, Kunal Sen & Cathleen Morin
Elements of Cartography,	Arthur H. Robinson
Geoinformatics for Environmental Management,	M. Anji Reddy

What are the PhD in Remote Sensing Job prospects and Career Opportunities?

A PhD in remote sensing serving as a doctoral degree offers careers in many important sectors that are also crucial in India's economic scenario and have been essential in contributing significantly to the economic status of the nation.

Aspirants after completing their degree can work with leading space research organizations such as ISRO to implement the technology of remote sensing into durable satellites and exploring the space end and its related content.
Aspirants who wish to have a career in the field of geology can get employment with geological survey if India as scientists and experts and can help doing surveying for unearthing mineral ores and studying and tracking new developments in earth's Geography and demographic transformations
Candidates can also venture into teaching and can become successful teachers in research institutions and educational universities
Individuals with this degree can also seek employment as cartographers and can help update the existing maps of India with latest developments of natural terrain and lakes and oceans through remote sensing Technology and can track their maneuvering patterns to provide accuracy.
Candidates can also become experts in the information technology and communication sectors by developing GPS induced tracking devices that can help further industries such as telecommunications and defense sectors.

Job Role	Description of the Job	Average Salary
Satellite engineer	Satellite engineers are individuals who are fluent in the remote sensing technology and integrate the learned concepts into practical application by building satellite with remote sensing technology to explore the space for research purposes	INR 3-6 lakhs
Remote sensing specialist	Remote sensing specialists are individuals who apply their knowledge of this technology to provide assistance to other related industries such as Geology and archaeology by developing equipment and tools suitable for their approach as well provide equipment or infrastructure to other labs and organizations	INR 2-4 lakhs
Data analyzer/data interpretation	Data interpretation specialist are individuals who decode or decipher the data collected via remote sensing technology to assist the employed organization and aid their work and research	INR 3-6 lakhs
Surveyor	Surveyors are field experts with the knowledge of remote sensing technology to provide assistance and insight to other sectors such as Geology and Archaeological expeditions and help them in tracking and investigating. They are also employed by cartographers to track new terrain patterns of natural sources.	INR 3-5 lakhs
Teachers/professor	PhD in remote sensing professionals can work as teachers in leading educational institutions to further educate the upcoming lot and help them in their research and development.	INR 3-4 lakhs
Cartographers	Cartographers are individuals who develop maps of various states and nations, Remote Sensing can help them tracking the real time changes in demographic transformations hence it can aid the defense sector of India or any nation to have updated maps for such purposes	INR 3-6 lakhs

PhD in Remote Sensing Future Prospects

PhD in remote sensing is although a recent technological innovation but due to its extremely accurate analysis capabilities, it has been integrated and adopted by many related sectors to earn profits and to provide stability in varied professional areas.

Successful completion of this degree can ensure a bright career in the field of education. Students can easily opt for teaching and become influential professors in major universities and colleges to offer expertise to young students and aspirants.
Candidates can also become research associates with organizations such as ISRO and DRDO to provide assistance and design new remote sensing equipment to serve the organization's standards and help them in reaching their goals.
Students can also become experts in mapping and surveying and can seek field jobs with organizations such as Geological survey of India and Archaeological expeditions to provide insight on various topics related to these professions and help them investigate new terrain and demographic development.
Aspirants can also work as remote sensing experts with leading information technology and telecommunications industry and can help build cutting- edge tracking devices that can be employed in cell phones, computers, smart watches and also help the defense sector of India in designing tracking devices to help soldiers or field officers.
Remote sensing engineering has also been gaining momentum where students can independently work on their own projects and design new tools and equipment using remote sensing technology to ensure growth in exploration activities of various related industries such as space, geology, Archaeology and defense.

PhD in Remote Sensing FAQs

Ques. What is remote sensing?

Ans. Remote sensing is a Technology that is able to track physical changes and buried physical sources using sensors and provide accurate analysis of new developments on earth and space. This technology is used to investigate new demographic patterns and exploration purposes.

Ques. What is the eligibility of PhD in remote sensing?

Ans. PhD in remote sensing requires a master's degree in the related discipline with a score of 55%. Candidates belonging to OBC/SC/ST can get relaxation up to 5 percent on their admission process. Candidates are also required to have qualified UGC NET or entrance test of their respective colleges to get admission in this course program.

Ques. What is the scope of PhD in remote sensing?

Ans. PhD in remote sensing can help candidates get employment opportunities with reputed organizations of India such as Geological Survey of India, DRDO and ISRO as research associates and engineers. Aspirants can also work as teachers with colleges and universities.

Ques. What is mapping and surveying?

Ans. Many industries such as geology and Archaeology rely on Remote Sensing technology to track places that might contain the resources they are looking for. Hence mapping and surveying requires noting and allowing surveying of potential areas and sites and mapping their surfaces to find minerals and natural formations or hidden cultures for Archaeological expeditions.

Ques. What is cartography?

Ans. Cartography is the art of making maps. Maps are used heavily by the defense sector and many industries for location purposes, since earth is prone to demographic changes in every few years, remote sensing can help in tracking these changes and updating such changes to develop new maps with accurate information.

Ques. What is the scope of this degree abroad?

Ans. The course curriculum of PhD in remote sensing is universally accepted. Hence students can work as research associates and teachers to have better salary packages and exposure.

Ques. What is the eligibility of PhD in remote sensing?

Ans. Candidates who wish to study this course are required to have a master's degree in a related field with a minimum of 55% score. Candidates also should have qualified additional CET or UGC NET exams to get admitted in the program.

Ques. What can I do after completing this degree?

Ans. A candidate can easily work as a teacher, cartographer, remote sensing specialist and engineers. They can also become research associates with ISRO and DRDO.

Ques. What are some field jobs associated with PhD in remote sensing?

Ans. Field jobs can involve surveying and mapping hence a career as surveyors, cartographers, geological scientists, archeologists (remote sensing expert) can provide better field experience with this degree

Ques. What is the salary package of this professional degree?

Ans. Starting salaries for this profession ranges around INR 2-4 lakhs which can increase with time and experience.