Which of the following is a typical application of remote sensing in geography?

• A. Generating topographic base maps from field surveys.
• B. Land cover classification
• C. In-situ soil sampling with manual instruments.
• D. Local zoning enforcement decisions.

Answer: (B)

Remote sensing is about obtaining information about the Earth's surface from sensors aboard satellites or aircraft without direct contact. A primary use in geography is land cover classification, where the spectral signatures captured in imagery are analyzed to assign each part of the landscape to categories like forest, water, urban, or cropland. This lets geographers map large areas consistently, detect how landscapes change over time, and support planning and environmental monitoring.

Other options are more tied to direct fieldwork or governance. Generating base maps from field surveys relies on on-the-ground measurements rather than panoramic sensing, and while remote sensing can help with topography, that usually involves elevation data produced from specific sensing techniques rather than field surveys. In-situ soil sampling is a direct ground measurement, not a remote sensing task, and local zoning decisions are administrative processes rather than a remote sensing application.