Which of the following is a non-military application of remote sensing?

Emergency management is a prominent non-military application of remote sensing because it utilizes satellite imagery and data to monitor natural disasters, assess damage, and coordinate response efforts. Remote sensing provides critical information regarding changes in land use, environmental conditions, and infrastructure status after events such as floods, hurricanes, or wildfires. This information supports disaster response teams in making informed decisions quickly, thereby improving the effectiveness of emergency assistance and recovery operations.

In contrast, the other options, such as spy satellite operations, military reconnaissance, and covert surveillance, primarily serve military or intelligence gathering purposes rather than civilian or public safety applications. While they are incredibly important in their own right, they do not fall under the category of non-military uses of remote sensing. Therefore, emergency management stands out as a clear example of how remote sensing technology can be leveraged for the benefit of society beyond military contexts.