ABSTRACT
Hyperspectral remote sensing technology has the potential for direct identification of constituent minerals in soils. The question arises whether this technology could become a useful tool for identifying and evaluating expansive soils. This chapter reports on the use of high spectral resolution optical remote sensing to detect and map swelling clays, in the context of a rapidly growing urban area severely affected with swelling soil problems. The results showed that such optical remote sensing methods, coupled with reduced field and laboratory analyses, can offer practical help to civic planners, as long as the swelling soils are adequately exposed.
