Origin of the term “remote sensing” Identify the person credited with coining the term “remote sensing” in the context of Earth observation and allied geosciences.

Introduction / Context:
Nomenclature shapes disciplines. The term “remote sensing” consolidated diverse practices—photogrammetry, aerial survey, multispectral observation—under a unified banner for scientific and operational Earth observation. Knowing its origin is common background for professionals in GIS and EO.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks specifically who coined the term “remote sensing”.
• We distinguish between early pioneers of aerial photography and the later formalisation of terminology.

Concept / Approach:
While aerial imaging dates to the 19th and early 20th centuries (balloon, kite, aircraft), the modern term “remote sensing” was popularised and credited to Evelyn L. Pruitt of the U.S. Office of Naval Research in the mid-20th century to encompass non-contact sensing of the Earth’s surface using various portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Step-by-Step Discussion:

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard remote sensing textbooks and historical notes attribute the term to Pruitt; earlier figures contributed techniques but not the specific term.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Gaspard Felix Tournachon: Pioneer of balloon photography, but not the term’s originator.
• Wilbur Wright: Aviation pioneer; also misidentified as Italian here; did not coin the term.
• None of these / All of these: Both contradict the accepted attribution to Pruitt.

Common Pitfalls:
Equating invention of aerial photography with the coinage of “remote sensing” and overlooking mid-20th-century institutional terminology development.

Final Answer:
Evelyn L. Pruitt, a geographer