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At least 181 records · Page 10

Geometric accuracy of LANDSAT-4 MSS image data

Analyses of the LANDSAT-4 MSS image data of North Georgia provided by the EDC in CCT-p formats reveal that errors of approximately + or - 30 m in the raw data can be reduced to about + or - 55 m based on rectification procedures involving the use of 20 to 30 well-distributed GCPs and 2nd or 3rd degree polynomial equations. Higher order polynomials do not appear to improve the rectification accuracy. A subscene area of 256 x 256 pixels was rectified with a 1st degree polynomial to yield an RMSE sub xy value of + or - 40 m, indicating that USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle-sized areas of LANDSAT-4 data can be fitted to a map base with relatively few control points and simple equations. The errors in the rectification process are caused by the spatial resolution of the MSS data, by errors in the maps and GCP digitizing process, and by displacements caused by terrain relief. Overall, due to the improved pointing and attitude control of the spacecraft, the geometric quality of the LANDSAT-4 MSS data appears much improved over that of LANDSATS -1, -2 and -3.

Welch, R.↗

Orientation and origin of ridges in the Lunae Palus - Coprates region of Mars

By analogy with lunar mare ridges and from morphologic evidence, such as the smooth slopes of arches, the wrinkle ridges of the Tharsis region of Mars are interpreted to primarily result from compressional folding of the volcanic plains. Comparison of ridge orientations in the Lunae Palus and Coprates quadrangles to a Tharsis center indicates that more than 60% of the total length of ridges is orthogonal to a normal from this center. Graben trends in surrounding terrain indicate that nonorthogonal ridges are not significantly affected by regional scale structures. Comparison of orthogonal and nonorthogonal ridge frequencies suggests that loading due to the Tharsis plateau produced compressional features as far as 4000 km from the center of the load, and that additional compressional stress sources are needed to account for ridge systems at greater distances from the Tharsis plateau.

Maxwell, T. A.↗

Volcanoes and volcanic provinces - Martian western hemisphere

The recognition of some Martian landforms as volcanoes is based on their morphology and geologic setting. Other structures, however, may exhibit classic identifying features to a varying or a less degree; these may be only considered provisionally as having a volcanic origin. Regional geologic mapping of the western hemisphere of Mars from Viking images has revealed many more probable volcanoes and volcanotectonic features than were recognized on Mariner 9 pictures. These abundant volcanoes have been assigned to several distinct provinces on the basis of their areal distribution. Although the Olympus-Tharsis region remains as the principle center of volcanism on Mars, four other important provinces are now also recognized: the lowland plains, Tempe Terra plateau, southern highlands (in the Phaethontis and Thaumasia quadrangles), and a probable ignimbrite province, situated along the highland-lowland boundary in Amazonis Planitia. Volcanoes in any one province vary in morphlogy, size, and age, but volcanoes in each province tend to have common characteristics that distinguish that particular group.

Scott, D. H.↗

Comparative assessment of LANDSAT-4 MSS and TM data quality for mapping applications in the southeast

The initial objectives of analyses of the MSS data are two-fold: (1) to evaluate the geodetic accuracy of CCT-P data of the test sites; and (2) to improve the geodetic accuracy by additional processing if the original data either do not meet pre-launch specifications or mapping requirements. The location of 45 ground control points (GCP) digitized from 35 U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 scale quadrangles (UTM coordinates) were identified in terms of pixel and scan line values. These 46 points are used to establish UTM position error vector distributions in the scene. As an initial check on the geometric reliability of the MSS data, 28 well-distributed GCPs were input to a program which compares the scaled image distances between all possible point pairs with the corresponding map distances and computes the distance differences; that is, the relative positional errors. The relative errors obtained from initial computations averaged about +/- 200 m. These errors could result from a number of sources, including misidentification of GCP locations, UTM coordinate errors introduced by the map digitizing process or errors resulting from data acquisition and geometric processing.

Welch, R.↗

Application of Heat Capacity Mapping Mission data to regional geologic analysis for mineral and energy resource evaluation

Heat Capacity Mapping Mission thermal-inertia images of a diversity of terrains and geologic settings were examined in conjunction with topographic, geologic, geophysical, and LANDSAT data. The images were found to have attributes similar to bedrock maps. In the Cascades region, two new features were identified and a method was developed to characterize regional terranes using linear feature data. Two northeast-trending Lineaments were discovered in the Overthrust Belt of Montana and Idaho. The longer of the two extends from the Idaho-Oregon border, through the Idaho batholith and across the Lewis thrust. It coincides, along segments, with mapped faults and an aeromagnetic pattern change. A major lineament crossing the Colorado Plateau and the Southern Rocky Mountians was detected on several thermal-inertial images and evidence was found for the existence of a geologic discontinuity. Vegetation-covered areas in Richfield and the Silver City quadrangle (Arizona and New Mexico) displayed thermal-inertia differences within heavily vegetation areas although no apreciable correlation was found between vegetation cover and thermal inertia. Resistant ridges and knolls have high thermal inertias and thermal-inertia contrasts occurred at lithologic and fault contacts. In the heavy vegetated Pinaleno Mountains, Arizona, a Lithologic unit obscured on LANDSAT MSS data due to the vegetation cover, exhibited a thermal-inertia contrast with its surroundings.

Watson, K.↗

Volcanic forms in the Kane Patera region, Io

Four morphologically distinct major volcanic forms occur within and adjacent to the Kane Patera, high resolution map quadrangle Ji2B (lat 15 to 50 S., long 355 to 20 W.). Volcanic vents and flows from four types of features are included: low-relief shield volcanoes, domical shield volcanoes, large calderas and isolated groups of flows not obviously associated with a central vent.

Karner, F. R.↗

A tectonic geomorphological classification of the walls of Valles Marineris

Viking 1 imagery of the Coprates NW quadrangle was used in an attempt to develop a geomorphic classification scheme for the canyon walls of Valles Marineris analogous to that devised to evaluate the relative tectonic activity of terrestrial mountain fronts. The four classes of walls established are described and mapped. Regions where a class cannot be assigned owing to the presence of intra canyon sediments, landslides, or landslide debris; and apparent fault scarps that occur on the canyon floor rather than at the wall base are also shown. The most striking feature is the concentration of active tectonic features within lus Chasma, and to a lesser extent in Tithonium Chasma, as well as along the north walls of Coprates and East Candor.

Spencer, J. R.↗

Mercury: Topographic and geologic data from Earth-based radar observations

Significant new geologic information has been revealed by comparing 1:5 million scale geologic maps of the equatorial zone quadrangles of Mercury (H-6, H-7 and H-8) to Earth-based elevation profiles and surface reflectivity maps of Mercury obtained in the early 1970's at the Arecibo (PR) and Goldstone (CA) radar facilities. These data consist of 23 Goldstone images and profiles of polarized return data at 12.5-cm wavelength and one Arecibo profile. Radar data with 150-m vertical accuracy and 10- to 20-km horizontal resolution are available for areas between latitudes 13 N. and 11 S. In general, these data sets show excellent correlation between: (1) relative elevation and roughness differences that are reflected by mapped geologic contacts; (2) mapped ridges and scarps that display distinctive radar signatures; and (3) position and morphology of crater-and-basin topographic elements. Inferences can also be drawn about topographic and geologic terrain beyond the area imaged by Mariner 10 cameras.

Strobell, M. E.↗

Geometric Accuracy of LANDSAT-4 MSS Image Data

Analyses of the LANDSAT-4 MSS image data of North Georgia provided by the EDC in CTT-p formats reveal that errors of approximately + or - 30 m in the raw data can be reduced to about + or - 55 m based on rectification procedures involving the use of 20 to 30 well-distributed GCPs and 2nd or 3rd degree polynomial equations. Higher order polynomials do not appear to improve the rectification accuracy. A subscene area of 256 by 256 pixels was rectified with a 1st degree polynomial to yield an RMSE sub xy value of + or - 40 m, indicating that USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle-sized areas of LANDSAT-4 data can be fitted to a map base with relatively few control points and simple equations. The errors in the rectification process are caused by the spatial resolution of the MSS data, by errors in the maps and GCP digitizing process, and by displacements caused by terrain relief. Overall, due to the improved pointing and attitude control of the spacecraft, the geometric quality of the LANDSAT-4 MSS data appears much improved over that of LANDSAT-1, -2 AND -3.

Welch, R.↗

Relative Accuracy Assessment of LANDSAT-4 MSS and TM Data for Level 1 Land Cover Inventory

Digital data for the Washington, D.C. scene from the LANDSAT-4 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and the LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) are compared. Classification success for the TM and MSS data sets was determined by a per pixel comparison with digitized ground verification data (GVD). These GVD were comprised of Level I land cover (developed, agriculture, forest, water, wetlands, and barren) for four USGS 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps. Classification accuracy was computed as an average value and for each cover type. Accuracy was expressed two ways: (1) as the percent correspondence with GVD (% correct) and (2) as the percent correspondence relative to both the GVD and LANDSAT classification schemes. Errors of omission and commission associated with the LANDSAT classifications were also computed. Specific results are discussed.

Middleton, E. M.↗

Digital image processing applied to analysis of geophysical and geochemical data for southern Missouri

Digital image-processing techniques have been used to analyze a variety of geophysical and geochemical map data covering southern Missouri, a region with important basement and strata-bound mineral deposits. Gravity and magnetic anomaly patterns, which have been reformatted to image displays, indicate a deep crustal structure cutting northwest-southeast through southern Missouri. In addition, geologic map data, topography, and Landsat multispectral scanner images have been used as base maps for the digital overlay of aerial gamma-ray and stream sediment chemical data for the 1 x 2-deg Rolla quadrangle. Results indicate enrichment of a variety of elements within the clay-rich alluvium covering many of the interfluvial plains, as well as a complicated pattern of enrichment for the sedimentary units close to the Precambrian rhyolites and granites of the St. Francois Mountains.

Guinness, E. A.↗

Integration of imagery and cartographic data through a common map base

Several disparate data types are integrated by using control points as the basis for spatially registering the data to a map base. The data are reprojected to match the coordinates of the reference UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) map projection, as expressed in lines and samples. Control point selection is the most critical aspect of integrating the Thematic Mapper Simulator MSS imagery with the cartographic data. It is noted that control points chosen from the imagery are subject to error from mislocated points, either points that did not correlate well to the reference map or minor pixel offsets because of interactive cursorring errors. Errors are also introduced in map control points when points are improperly located and digitized, leading to inaccurate latitude and longitude coordinates. Nonsystematic aircraft platform variations, such as yawl, pitch, and roll, affect the spatial fidelity of the imagery in comparison with the quadrangles. Features in adjacent flight paths do not always correspond properly owing to the systematic panorama effect and alteration of flightline direction, as well as platform variations.

Clark, J.↗

Printer Graphics Package

Printer Graphics Package (PGP) is tool for making two-dimensional symbolic plots on line printer. PGP created to support development of Heads-Up Display (HUD) simulation. Standard symbols defined with HUD in mind. Available symbols include circle, triangle, quadrangle, window, line, numbers, and text. Additional symbols easily added or built up from available symbols.

Blanchard, D. C.↗

A geographic information system for resource managers based on multi-level remote sensing data

Procedures followed in developing a test case geographic information system derived primarily from remotely sensed data for the North Cache Soil Conservation District (SCD) in northern Utah are outlined. The North Cache SCD faces serious problems regarding water allocation, flood and geologic hazards, urban encroachment into prime farmland, soil erosion, and wildlife habitat. Four fundamental data planes were initially entered into the geo-referenced data base: (1) land use/land cover information for the agricultural and built-up areas of the valley obtained from various forms of aerial photography; (2) vegetation/land cover in mountains classified digitally from LANDSAT; (3) geomorphic terrain units derived from aerial photography and soil maps; and (4) digital terrain maps obtained from DMA digital data. The land use/vegetation/land cover information from manual photographic and LANDSAT interpretation were joined digitally into a single data plane with an integrated legend, and segmented into quadrangle units. These were merged with the digitized geomorphic units and the digital terrain data using a Prime 400 minicomputer. All data planes were geo-referenced to a UTM coordinate grid.

Wheeler, D. J.↗

LANDSAT 4 investigations of Thematic Mapper and Multispectral Scanner applications

Structural and stratigraphic characteristics of the Drum Mountains in Utah were obtained using LANDSAT 5 TM data that were digitally enhanced using band ratioing, principal components analysis, and spatial filtering techniques. Color ratioing composite images proved most useful for distinguishing between and identifying exposure of hyroxly bearing hydrothermally altered inclusive rocks and bleached contact metamorphic rocks dominated by calc-silicate mineral assemblages. The amount and detail of geologic information interpreted from TM images is more significant than that from MSS and in geologic maps. Enhanced LANDSAT 5 TM data also identified and mapped hydrothermal alteration and distinguished between altered and unaltered limonitic assemblages in the Tonopath, Nevada quadrangle.

Lauer, D. T.↗

Relative Accuracy Assessment of LANDSAT-4 MSS and TM Data for Level 1 Land Cover Inventory

Digital data for the Washington, DC scene simultaneously acquired by the LANDSAT-4 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and the LANDSAT-4 thematic mapper (TM) was compared. Classification success for the TM and MSS data sets was determined by a per pixel comparison with digitized ground verification data (GVD). These GVD were comprised of Level 7 land cover (developed, agriculture, forest, water, wetlands, and barren) for four USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle maps. The relative improvement in classification success for TM was between 11% and 14%, or about a factor of 1.3, for these data. This represents a meaningful improvement in accuracy for Level 7 land cover categorization for TM relative to MSS, particularly when errors of omission and commission were considered.

Middleton, E. M.↗

Quantification of waste morphology in Martian fretted terrain

Qualitative and quantitative analyses are performed on the northern fretted terrain of the Martian Isnenius Lacus quadrangle to determine the formation processes. The fretted terrain lies between 35-50 deg N latitude and 305-350 deg W longitude and was mapped with Viking orbiter instrumentation. The dominant landforms are a sequence of heavily cratered terrain, scattered flat-floored, fretted valleys, linear waste-covered valleys between flat-topped mesas, circum-mesa debris areas, a transition from mesas to knobby terrain, fewer upland forms, and low-relief, mantled, polar plains. The features spread out from a cratered terrain boundary in a succession of shapes. A principal components analysis characterizes definable spatial variations in the surface morphology and suggests that the features are youngest in the southwest direction. Relationships are also found between neighboring features. The principal components analysis technique is concluded to be a valuable tool for explaining the geomorphic evolution of the Martian surface.

Kochel, R. C.↗

A geographic information system for resource managers based on multi-level remote sensing data

Procedures followed in developing a test case geographic information system derived primarily from remotely sensed data for the North Cache Soil Conservation District (SCD) in northern Utah are outlined. The North Cache SCD faces serious problems regarding water allocation, flood and geologic hazards, urban encroachment into prime farmland, soil erosion, and wildlife habitat. Four fundamental data planes were initially entered into the geo-referenced data base: (1) land use/land cover information for the agricultural and built-up areas of the valley obtained from various forms of aerial photography; (2) vegetation/land cover in mountains classified digitally from Landsat; (3) geomorphic terrain units derived from aerial photography and soil maps; and (4) digital terrain maps obtained from DMA digital data. The land use/vegetation/land cover information from manual photographic and Landsat interpretation were joined digitally into a single data plane with an integrated legend, and segmented into quadrangle units. These were merged with the digitized geomorphic units and the digital terrain data using a Prime 400 minicomputer. All data planes were geo-referenced to a UTM coordinate grid.

Wheeler, D. J.↗