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At least 253 records · Page 14

Land use project (comparison of LANDSAT with aircraft-derived land cover data for a proposed highway project)

The Maryland Automated Geographic Information System is described as well as the development of a general land cover classification with level 2 separation for vegetation categories for a 95,000-acre study area in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties. An accuracy analysis was performed on two subsections of the entire study area. The 1:24,000 scale land use map and the high in altitude infrared photography were determined to the best source of ground truth for the analysis. Results show that (1) delineation of deciduous and coniferous forested areas from LANDSAT data compared well with results from infrared photography; (2) general classification of agricultural areas showed acceptable results; (3) delineation of residential areas had the highest error rates (difference in interpretation and cover type assignment methods was a primary factor); and (4) LANDSAT-derived land cover data is to be used as an ancillary data source in a Maryland statewide land cover inventory.

Rugoski, T.↗

The Use of Principal Components for Creating Improved Imagery for Geometric Control Point Selection

A directed principal component (PC) analysis and its transformation was applied to 7-channel thematic mapper simulator (TMS) data and 4-channel LANDSAT multispectral scanner system (MSS) data collected over the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to create improved imagery for geometric control point selection for image to image registration. Nineteen temporally stable geometric control points, such as road interactions and bridges, were selected for a 236 sq km area. The control points were visible on both the TMS and MSS imagery. On the first attempt the corresponding image control points were selected on both data sets without using the principal components transformation. Many of the road intersection locations were visible but the actual road crossings could not be distinguished. As a result, mensuration errors using raw data exceeded the equivalent of two (79 x 79 m) pixels. The application of a guided principal components transformation yielded TMS and MSS single band images showing improved detail in the scene's urban and residential infrastructure. The PC transformed data sets were then utilized for the reselection of geometric control points. By shown greater detail, control points on both the TMS and MSS imagery could be located with greater precision using the PC transformed data.

Imhoff, M. L.↗

Spatially Characterizing Effective Timber Supply

The structure of a computer-oriented cartographic model for assessing roundwood supply for generation of base load electricity is discussed. The model provides an analytical procedure for coupling spatial information of harvesting economics and owner willingness to sell stumpages. Supply is characterized in terms of standing timber; of accessibility considering various harvesting and hauling factors; and of availability as affected by ownership and residential patterns. Factors governing accessibility to timber include effective harvesting distance to haulic roads as modified by barriers and slopes. Haul distance is expressed in units that take into account the relative ease of travel along various road types to a central processing facility. Areas of accessible timber are grouped into spatial units, termed 'timbersheds', of common access to particular haul road segments that belong to unique 'transport zones'. Timber availability considerations include size of ownership parcels, housing density and excluded areas. The analysis techniques are demonstrated for a cartographic data base in western Massachusetts.

Berry, J. K.↗

Comparison of Land Cover Information from LANDSAT MSS and Airborne TMS for Hydrological Applications: Preliminary Results

Land cover information for the Clinton River Basin (Michigan) derived from LANDSAT multispectral scanner (MSS) data was compared with that from airborne thematic mapper simulator (TMS) to investigate the probable capabilities of the thematic mapper (TM) launched aboard LANDSAT-4 in July 1982. The preliminary findings for one 7.5 minute topographic map, Mt. Clemens West, are reported. Significant improvements in land cover classification accuracy were obtained using TMS data as compared with MSS data. Overall mapping accuracy increased from 49 to 61 percent with an improvement from 71 to 84 percent in the residential category. A combination of four bands with one band in each major region of the spectrum (visible, near IR, middle IR and thermal IR) provided as good a discrimination of land cover as all seven TM bands. Based on the improved land cover classification accuracy of TM, TM data has the potential to provide more useful and effective input to US Army Corps of Engineers flood forecasting and flood damage prediction/assessment models.

Gervin, J. C.↗

The classification of LANDSAT data for the Orlando, Florida, urban fringe area

Procedures used to map residential land cover on the Orlando, Florida, Urban fringe zone are detailed. The NASA Bureau of the Census Applications Systems Verification and Transfer project and the test site are described as well as the LANDSAT data used as the land cover information sources. Both single-date LANDSAT data processing and multitemporal principal components LANDSAT data processing are described. A summary of significant findings is included.

Walthall, C. L.↗

Effects of autocorrelation upon LANDSAT classification accuracy

Richmond, Virginia and Denver, Colorado were study sites in an effort to determine the effect of autocorrelation on the accuracy of a parallelopiped classifier of LANDSAT digital data. The autocorrelation was assumed to decay to insignificant levels when sampled at distances of at least ten pixels. Spectral themes developed using blocks of adjacent pixels, and using groups of pixels spaced at least 10 pixels apart were used. Effects of geometric distortions were minimized by using only pixels from the interiors of land cover sections. Accuracy was evaluated for three classes; agriculture, residential and "all other"; both type 1 and type 2 errors were evaluated by means of overall classification accuracy. All classes give comparable results. Accuracy is approximately the same in both techniques; however, the variance in accuracy is significantly higher using the themes developed from autocorrelated data. The vectors of mean spectral response were nearly identical regardless of sampling method used. The estimated variances were much larger when using autocorrelated pixels.

Craig, R. G.↗

Urban change detection procedures using Landsat digital data

Landsat multispectral scanner data was applied to an urban change detection problem in Denver, CO. A dichotomous key yielding ten stages of residential development at the urban fringe was developed. This heuristic model allowed one to identify certain stages of development which are difficult to detect when performing digital change detection using Landsat data. The stages of development were evaluated in terms of their spectral and derived textural characteristics. Landsat band 5 (0.6-0.7 micron) and texture data produced change detection maps which were approximately 81 percent accurate. Results indicated that the stage of development and the spectral/textural features affect the change in the spectral values used for change detection. These preliminary findings will hopefully prove valuable for improved change detection at the urban fringe.

Jensen, J. R.↗

Controlling Solar-Power Systems With Distributed Processors

System undergoing development uses distributed microprocessors to monitor and control photovoltaic power system. Equipment increases life expectancy and reliability of power system and decreases costs. Adapted to vehicular, residential, and commercial solar and nonsolar power systems. Equipment especially desirable in systems with overall power levels above few kilowatts.

Imamura, M. S.↗

Economic competitiveness of fuel cell onsite integrated energy systems

The economic competitiveness of fuel cell onsite integrated energy systems (OS/IES) in residential and commercial buildings is examined. The analysis is carried out for three different buildings with each building assumed to be at three geographic locations spanning a range of climatic conditions. Numerous design options and operating strategies are evaluated and two economic criteria are used to measure economic performance. In general the results show that fuel cell OS/IES's are competitive in most regions of the country if the OS/IES is properly designed. The preferred design is grid connected, makes effective use of the fuel cell's thermal output, and has a fuel cell powerplant sized for the building's base electrical load.

Bollenbacher, G.↗

Classification and area estimation of land covers in Kansas using ground-gathered and LANDSAT digital data

Ground-gathered data and LANDSAT multispectral scanner (MSS) digital data from 1981 were analyzed to produce a classification of Kansas land areas into specific types called land covers. The land covers included rangeland, forest, residential, commercial/industrial, and various types of water. The analysis produced two outputs: acreage estimates with measures of precision, and map-type or photo products of the classification which can be overlaid on maps at specific scales. State-level acreage estimates were obtained and substate-level land cover classification overlays and estimates were generated for selected geographical areas. These products were found to be of potential use in managing land and water resources.

May, G. A.↗

Safety-related requirements for photovoltaic modules and arrays

Safety requirements for photovoltaic module and panel designs and configurations for residential, intermediate, and large scale applications are investigated. Concepts for safety systems, where each system is a collection of subsystems which together address the total anticipated hazard situation, are described. Descriptions of hardware, and system usefulness and viability are included. A comparison of these systems, as against the provisions of the 1984 National Electrical Code covering photovoltaic systems is made. A discussion of the Underwriters Laboratory UL investigation of the photovoltaic module evaluated to the provisions of the proposed UL standard for plat plate photovoltaic modules and panels is included. Grounding systems, their basis and nature, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are described. The meaning of frame grounding, circuit groundings, and the type of circuit ground are covered.

Levins, A.↗

Guidelines for assessment and control of noise

There is an obvious need for guidelines and standards with respect to what intensities and durations of noise exposure is considered incompatible with the health and well-being of the people exposed. These guidelines would presumably be useful for the zoning of land areas to avoid overexposure of people to environmental noise and for legislative-judicial adjudication of liabilities for possible damages to individuals and groups from exposure to noise. A number of guidelines for noise exposure were promulgated by various governmental agencies for these purposes. Partly because of the need for an integrated and consistent program of noise control for all elements of the government, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established. In addition to previously issuing some specific documents regarding safe noise exposure limits, the EPA joined several Federal operating and regulatory agencies in issuing guidelines for considering noise in land use planning and control. Government guideline documents, as well as some issued by non-government agencies, are examined. Also, newly proposed guidelines for noise in residential areas, and the scientific basis for these guidelines, are presented.

Source record↗

Comparison of Land Cover Information from LANDSAT Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and Airborne Thematic Mapper Simulator (TMS) Data for Hydrologic Applications

Detailed land cover classifications were performed on the Thematic Mapper Simulator (TMS) and MSS data of the Clinton River Basin (acquired on August 19, 1981, and June 28, 1980, respectively) using supervised classification techniques. Differences in interclass separability were compared to select several promising TMS band combinations, selected from the 27 covering the Clinton River Basin. The TMS data produced a more accurate and spatially contiguous classification than MSS for this study site. While the accuracy of the 4-band TM data set was as good as the 7-band, the 3-band TMS data sets were also better than the MSS. These results indicate that both the increased spectral discrimination and spatial resolution contribute to improved classification accuracy. The possibility of reducing the data analysis burden associated with large TM data volumes through effective band selection therefore appears promising. The implications of the improved classification accuracy of TMS data are important for hydrologic and economic modeling. In particular, the higher accuracies for the developed categories (residential and commercial) should improve the predictions of runoff in flood forecasting models and of flood damage for damage calculation models appreciably.

Gervin, J. C.↗

Free-piston stirling engine endurance test program

The Free-Piston Stirling Engine (FPSE) has the potential to be a long-lived, highly reliable, power conversion device attractive for many product applications such as space, residential, or remote-site power. The purpose of endurance testing the FPSE is to demonstrate its potential for long life. The endurance program was directed at obtaining 1000 operational hours under various test conditions: low power, full stroke, duty cycle, and stop/start. Critical performance parameters were measured to note any change and/or trend. Inspections were conducted to measure and compare critical seal/bearing clearance. The engine performed well throughout the program, completing the 1000 hours. Hardware inspection, including the critical clearances, showed no significant change in hardware or clearance dimensions. The performance parameters did not exhibit any increasing or decreasing trends. The test program confirms the potential for long-life FPSE applications. Additional testing is planned to increase the test hours to 10,000.

Dochat, G.↗

Photovoltaics - Where are we going?

The directions that will be followed for solar cell development, production and marketing are projected on the basis of experiences gained during the JPL's Flat-Plate Solar Array project. It is thought that a billion dollar market for Si ribbons can be established by 1990. Thin film technology will yield a product at $2 U.S./W at the end of the 1980s. R&D is growing more focused on central station photovoltaic generators, although the residential market may be the more suitable goal. The intermediate markets, e.g., schools, hospitals and shopping centers may be developed before the central stations.

Callaghan, W. T.↗

Comparison of MSS and TM Data for Landcover Classification in the Chesapeake Bay Area: a Preliminary Report

An area bordering the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay was selected for study and classified using unsupervised techniques applied to LANDSAT-2 MSS data and several band combinations of LANDSAT-4 TM data. The accuracies of these Level I land cover classifications were verified using the Taylor's Island USGS 7.5 minute topographic map which was photointerpreted, digitized and rasterized. The the Taylor's Island map, comparing the MSS and TM three band (2 3 4) classifications, the increased resolution of TM produced a small improvement in overall accuracy of 1% correct due primarily to a small improvement, and 1% and 3%, in areas such as water and woodland. This was expected as the MSS data typically produce high accuracies for categories which cover large contiguous areas. However, in the categories covering smaller areas within the map there was generally an improvement of at least 10%. Classification of the important residential category improved 12%, and wetlands were mapped with 11% greater accuracy.

Mulligan, P. J.↗

Comparison of Land Cover Information from LANDSAT Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and Airborne Thematic Mapper Simulator (TMS) Data for Hydrologic Applications

Thematic mapper simulator (TMS) data produced a more accurate and spatially contiguous classification than MSS for the Clinton River Basin in Michigan. While the accuracy of the 4-band TMS data set was as good as the 7-band, the 3-band TMS data sets were also better than the MSS. The combination of bands selected based on the transformed divergence technique provided one band in each of the major regions of the spectrum: visible (band 3), near IR (band 4), middle IR (band 5) and thermal IR (band 7). These results should be viewed with some caution, since the data are from a TMS rather than the actual TM and the MSS data were obtained in early summer while the TMS was flown in late summer. The higher accuracies for the developed categories (residential and commercial) should improve the predictions of runoff in flood forecasting models and of flood damage for damage calculation models appreciably.

Gervin, J. C.↗

Sensitivities of projected 1980 photovoltaic system costs to major system cost drivers

The sensitivity of projected 1990 photovoltaic (PV) system costs to major system cost drivers was examined. It includes: (1) module costs and module efficiencies; (2) area related balance of system (BOS) costs; (3) inverter costs and efficiencies; and (4) module marketing and distribution markups and system integration fees. Recent PV system cost experiences and the high costs of electricity from the systems are reviewed. The 1990 system costs are projected for five classes of PV systems, including four ground mounted 5-MWp systems and one residential 5-kWp system. System cost projections are derived by first projecting costs and efficiencies for all subsystems and components. Sensitivity analyses reveal that reductions in module cost and engineering and system integration fees seem to have the greatest potential for contributing to system cost reduction. Although module cost is clearly the prime candidate for fruitful PV research and development activities, engineering and system integration fees seem to be more amenable to reduction through appropriate choice of system size and market strategy. Increases in inverter and module efficiency yield significant benefits, especially for systems with high area related costs.

Zimmerman, L. W.↗