Introduction: Eight fundamental parameters are used in the interpretation of remote sensing images: size, shape, tone, texture, site, association, shadow, and pattern. In some cases, a single such element is alone sufficient for successful identification; in others, the use of several different elements will be required. DzSizedz and Dzshapedz are pretty much self-explanatory; Dztonedz is the brightness of a black- and-white image or the color in a color image; Dztexturedz is distinctive variation of tone across a single object; for some objects, their location ȋDzsitedzȌ is a valuable datum in interpretation, as might also be any Dzassociationdz with nearby, readily-identifiable objects; Dzshadowdz can at times reveal diagnostic details otherwise invisible in a vertical image; and Dzpatterndz is a distinctive array of objects. Examples follow, using public- domain images acquired by the IKONOS satellite (with the exception of the R-G-B image, from the U. S. Geological Survey). Aerial photo interpretation: Aerial photo interpretation is a method of studying terrain by examining aerial photographs of it, involving detection and identification of the objects photographed, determination of their qualitative and quantitative characteristics, and recording the results graphically (using standard symbols), numerically, and textually. Aerial photo interpretation has certain features typical of terrain study in general, as well as certain differences, determined by the nature of the fields (practical and scientific) in which it is used (in combination with other methods of research). Classification: 1. Tone 2. Size 3. Shape 4. Texture 5. Pattern 6. Shadow 7. Site 8. Association First order Tone/Color: Tone can be defined as each distinguishable variation from white to black. Color may be defined as each distinguishable variation on an image produced by a multitude of combinations of hue, value and chroma. Many factors influence the tone or color of objects or features recorded on photographic emulsions. But, if there is not sufficient contrast between an object and its background to permit at least detection, there can be no identification. While a human interpreter may only be able to distinguish between ten and twenty shades of grey; interpreters can distinguish many more colors. Some authors state that interpreters can distinguish at least 100 times more variations of color on color photography than shades of gray on black and white photography. Examples of tone: Examples of color: