Optics and Photonics for Environmental Monitoring and Resource Management

Sustainable management of natural resources and precise environmental monitoring are increasingly critical in addressing global challenges. Optics and photonics offer powerful tools for measuring and characterizing atmospheric gases, aerosols, water quality, vegetation, and biological materials. Techniques such as remote sensing, hyperspectral imaging, and radiative transfer modeling allow researchers to quantify ecosystem health, detect environmental risks, and optimize resource use in agriculture, forestry, and water management. Additionally, advances in photonic instrumentation provide real-time data essential for informed decision-making. This edition highlights innovative applications of optical and photonic technologies that advance understanding, monitoring, and management of natural resources, bridging the gap between technology development and practical environmental applications.This Research Topic aims to bring together interdisciplinary research that applies optics and photonics to environmental monitoring and resource management. We seek to attract high-quality contributions about optics and photonics that present novel instrumentation, innovative measurement techniques, and applied technology to study assess and manage ecosystems, water, air, and soil resources. Research encourages integrating remote sensing, hyperspectral imaging, optical characterization, radiative transfer modeling, and other photonics-based methods, particularly studies demonstrating practical impact in sustainable resource use and ecosystem preservation. Contributions should emphasize both technological development and practical applications, illustrating how optical and photonic methods can provide valuable information decision-making in real-world environmental applications to maximize risk prevention and ecosystem preservation.The Research Topic welcomes original research articles, methodological developments, reviews, conceptual analyses, brief reports, data reports, and short communications that demonstrate innovative applications of optics and photonics for environmental monitoring and sustainable management of natural resources. Topics of interest include: • Optics and photonics sensors for environmental monitoring • Remote sensing and hyperspectral imaging techniques • Radiative transfer models and simulations • Optical characterization of biological and environmental materials • Development of photonic instrumentation and technologies • Monitoring and prevention of environmental risks • Sustainable management of natural resources via photonicsAll contributions should clearly demonstrate novel methodologies, technological innovation, and practical applications, ensuring relevance to an interdisciplinary audience spanning photonics, environmental science, biology, and engineering. The scope targets researchers from physics, photonics, environmental science, biology, engineering, and related disciplines. Topic editors: Alejandro Espinosa-Calderón, Wilson Castro Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78547/optics-and-photonics-for-environmental-monitoring-and-resource-management