Which type of image arrangement is used in a false color composite?

A false color composite is an image representation technique commonly used in remote sensing and GIS applications. It utilizes specific spectral bands to enhance the visibility of particular features on the Earth's surface.

In this context, the correct answer involves the use of near-infrared, red, and green bands arranged in a specified order. This arrangement is crucial because near-infrared light is not visible to the human eye but is reflective of healthy vegetation. By using this band alongside red and green, a false color composite highlights areas of vegetation and other land covers, allowing for better analysis of ecological conditions, land use, and urban development. This technique enhances the contrast among different land covers, making it easier to distinguish between various types of vegetation, water, and urban areas, which would not be as effective if only RGB bands were used.

Using only RGB bands focuses on the visible spectrum and may not provide the same level of detail or differentiation between features, hence is not suitable for applications that require a deeper analysis of vegetation health or soil moisture. Randomly arranging bands does not follow the systematic approach needed to highlight specific features, and using visible light bands limits the information available, making them less effective for remote sensing analyses.