Which technology is used to measure distances and generate high-resolution maps of the Earth's surface in remote sensing?

The technology used to measure distances and generate high-resolution maps of the Earth's surface in remote sensing is LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). LiDAR operates by emitting pulses of laser light toward the ground and measuring the time it takes for those pulses to bounce back. By calculating this time interval and knowing the speed of light, LiDAR can accurately determine the distance to the Earth's surface.

This technology is particularly well-regarded for its ability to create highly detailed and precise topographical maps, capturing fine details of the landscape, including features like vegetation and buildings. The resulting data can be used in a variety of applications, such as forestry, urban planning, and environmental monitoring.

While other technologies like radar and sonar also measure distances, they do so using different methods (radio waves for radar and sound waves for sonar) and are less suited for generating the same level of detailed surface mapping as LiDAR. Infrared spectroscopy, on the other hand, is primarily used for analyzing material properties rather than for measuring distances and mapping topography.