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At least 397 records · Page 22

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NASA NTRS1981

Remote sensing/vegetation classification

The CALVEG classification system for identification of vegetation is described. This hierarchical system responds to classification requirements and to interpretation of vegetation at various description levels, from site description to broad identification levels. The system's major strength is its flexibility in application of remote sensing technology to assess, describe and communicate data relative to vegetative resources on a state-wide basis. It is concluded that multilevel remote sensing is a cost effective tool for assessment of the natural resource base. The CLAVEG system is found to be an economically efficient tool for both existing and potential vegetation.

Parker, I. E.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Use and applicability of the vegetation component of the national site classification system

Existing vegetation on a site in Sumter National Forest, South Carolina was classified using high altitude aerial optical bar color infrared photography in an effort to determine if the National Site Classification (NSC) system could be used in the heterogeneously forested southeastern United States where it had not previously been used. Results show that the revised UNESCO international classification and mapping of vegetation system, as incorporated into the NSCS, is general enough at the higher levels and specific enough at the lower levels to adequately accommodate densely forested, heterogeneous areas as well as the larger, more homogeneous regions of the Pacific Northwest. The major problem is of existing vegetation versus natural vegetation.

Clark, C. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Modeling misregistration and related effects on multispectral classification

Any noise in measurements (due to the scene, sensor, or the analog to digital process) causes a finite fraction of measurements to fall outside of the classification limits. For field boundaries, where the misregistration effects are felt, the misregistration causes the border in a given (set of) band(s) to be closer than expected to a given pixel, so that the mixed materials in the pixels cause additional pixels to fall outside of the class limits. Considerations of the transient distance involved in the difference in brightness between adjacent fields, when scaled to "per pixel", allow the estimation of the width of the border zones. The entire problem is then scaled to field sizes to allow estimation of the global effects. This approach allows the estimation of the accuracy of multispectral classification which might be expected for field interiors, the useful number of quantization bits, and one set of criteria for an unbiased classifier.

Billingsley, F. C.↗

NASA NTRS1979

An application of LANDSAT multispectral imagery for the classification of hydrobiological systems, Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park, Florida

Multivariant hydrologic parameters over the Shark River Slough were investigated. Ground truth was established utilizing U-2 infrared photography and comprehensive field data to define a control network which represented all hydrobiological systems in the slough. These data were then applied to LANDSAT imagery utilizing an interactive multispectral processor which generated hydrographic maps through classification of the slough and defined the multispectral surface radiance characteristics of the wetlands areas in the park. The spectral response of each hydrobiological zone was determined and plotted to formulate multispectral relationships between the emittent energy from the slough in order to determine the best possible multispectral wavelength combinations to enhance classification results. The extent of each hydrobiological zone in slough was determined and flow vectors for water movement throughout the slough established.

Rose, P. W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

An improvement in land cover classification achieved by merging microwave data with Landsat multispectral scanner data

The improvement in land cover classification achieved by merging microwave data with Landsat MSS data is examined. To produce a merged data set for analysis and comparison, a registration procedure by which a set of Seasat SAR digital data was merged with the MSS data is described. The Landsat MSS data and the merged Landsat/Seasat data sets were processed using conventional multichannel spectral pattern recognition techniques. An analysis of the classified data sets indicates that while Landsat data delineate different forest types (i.e., deciduous/coniferous) and allow some species separation, SAR data provide additional information related to plant canopy configuration and vegetation density as associated with varying water regimes, and therefore allow for further subdivision in the classification of forested wetlands of the coastal region of the southern United States.

Wu, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Crop classification using airborne radar and Landsat data

NASA 13.3 GHz airborne radar data from a soil moisture measurement analysis is used to investigate the statistical nature of the radar backscattering coefficient for bare ground and three different crop types, and to evaluate the crop classification rates using Landsat data alone or combined with the airborne survey. The scatterometer was a fan-beam Doppler system, VV polarized, and is considered only for 50 deg angles of incidence. A total of 36 fields were covered a week apart by the aircraft and Landsat, and Rayleigh statistics were used in the frequency averaging to eliminate fluctuations due to random fluctuations. Within-field variances were calculated for the Landsat and the radar data and used to design optimum crop classification procedures. The Landsat Band 4 readings were 67% accurate, and an increase in accuracy of 10% was achieved by the addition of the radar data.

Ulaby, F. T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Modeling misregistration and related effects on multispectral classification

Misregistration is but one of a group of parameters (noise, class separability, spatial transient response, field sizes) affecting the accuracy of multispectral classification. The entire group must be considered simultaneously. Any noise in the measurements (due to the scene, to the sensor, or to the analog/digital conversion) will cause a finite fraction of the measurements to fall outside of the classification limits, even within nominally uniform fields. For field boundaries, where the effects of misregistration are felt, additional pixels will be misclassified due to the mixture of materials in the pixels. Misregistration causes field borders in a given (set of) band(s) to be closer than expected to a given pixel, causing additional pixels to be misclassified. Simplified models of the various effects are used to gain conceptual understanding and to estimate the performance to be expected.

Billingsley, F. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Fanning - A classification algorithm for mixture landscapes applied to Landsat data of Maine forests

It is pointed out that typical landscapes include a relatively small number of 'pure' land cover types which combine in various proportions to form a myriad of mixture types. Most Landsat classifications algorithms used today require a separate user specification for each category, including mixture categories. Attention is given to a simpler approach, which would require the user to specify only the 'pure' types. Mixture pixels would be classified on the basis of the proportion of the area covered by each pure type within the pixel. The 'fanning' algorithm quantifies varying proportions of two 'pure' land cover types in selected mixture pixels. This algorithm was applied to 200,000 ha of forest land in Maine, taking into account a comparison with standard inventory information. Results compared well with a discrete categories classification of the same area.

Ungar, S. G.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Automatic classification of clouds on Meteosat imagery - Application to high-level clouds

A statistical classification method based on clustering on three-dimensional histograms is applied to the three channels of the Meteosat imagery. The results of this classification are studied for different cloud cover cases over tropical regions. For high-level cloud classes, it is shown that the bidimensional IR-water vapor histogram allows one to deduce the cloud top temperature even for semi-transparent clouds.

Desbois, M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

An unsupervised classification approach for analysis of Landsat data to monitor land reclamation in Belmont county, Ohio

Two unsupervised classification procedures for analyzing Landsat data used to monitor land reclamation in a surface mining area in east central Ohio are compared for agreement with data collected from the corresponding locations on the ground. One procedure is based on a traditional unsupervised-clustering/maximum-likelihood algorithm sequence that assumes spectral groupings in the Landsat data in n-dimensional space; the other is based on a nontraditional unsupervised-clustering/canonical-transformation/clustering algorithm sequence that not only assumes spectral groupings in n-dimensional space but also includes an additional feature-extraction technique. It is found that the nontraditional procedure provides an appreciable improvement in spectral groupings and apparently increases the level of accuracy in the classification of land cover categories.

Brumfield, J. O.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A morphological classification of clusters of galaxies from Einstein images

The earliest Uhuru observations showed that cluster X-ray sources were not associated with single individual galaxies but were extended sources. It has only been with the advent of the Einstein X-ray imaging observatory that a first look at cluster X-ray morphology and classification has been possible. The proposed classification system divides clusters into two families, including those with and those without X-ray dominant galaxies. Within each family, the dynamical indicators display a full range of values. One subgroup of clusters is those whose X-ray emission is not regular and which do not contain an X-ray dominant galaxy. One of the brighter, nearer and best studied members of this class is Al367. From the X-ray imaging observations, four clusters have been discovered to have double structure in their surface brightness distributions. The Coma cluster is the archtype of an evolved, fully relaxed cluster. Ellipticals in the Virgo core include M87, M86, and M84. It is concluded that the cluster images are useful in determining the cluster family and the cluster's dynamical state.

Jones, C.↗

NASA NTRS1976

A computer analysis of ERTS data of the Lake Gregory area of South Australia with particular emphasis on its role in terrain classification for engineering

A digital computer and multivariate statistical techniques were used to analyze 4-band multispectral data. A representation of the original data for each of the four bands allows a certain degree of terrain interpretation; however, variations in appearance of sites within and between bands, without additional criteria for deciding which representation should be preferred, create difficulties for classification. Investigation of the video data groups produced by principal components analysis and cluster analysis techniques shows that effective correlations with classifications of terrain produced by conventional methods could be carried out. The analyses also highlighted underlying relationships between the various elements. The approach used allows large areas (185 cm by 185 cm) to be classified into fundamental units within a matter of hours and can be applied to those parts of the Earth where facilities for conventional studies are poor or lacking.

Lodwick, G. D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Land cover classification in southern Rhode Island using multidate LANDSAT MSS data

The use of LANDSAT multispectral scanner data from several different dates to classify ground cover in Rhode Island is discussed. The advantage of using several dates is that seasonal data can be incorporated in the classification. In order to circumvent the problem of increased computer computation time, the dimensionality of the input data is reduced by the 'principal components method'. This technique and its implementation are described along with regisration, classification, and verification tasks.

Cornillon, P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Using HCMM Thermal Data to Improve Classification of MSS Data

Spectral overlap between urban and rural land use/land cover categories can lead to unacceptable map accuracy levels in the classification of LANDSAT multispectral scanner (MSS) data. The four MSS bands used alone are not always adequate to distinguish among various land uses and cover types having similar spectral responses. The use of thermal data from the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) satellite as a means of improving MSS land cover classification accuracies for urban versus rural categories was investigated. The approaches used to integrate the HCMM data are described.

Witt, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Computer implemented land cover classification using LANDSAT MSS digital data: A cooperative research project between the National Park Service and NASA. 3: Vegetation and other land cover analysis of Shenandoah National Park

Four LANDSAT frames, each corresponding to one of the four seasons were spectrally classified and processed using NASA-developed computer programs. One data set was selected or two or more data sets were marged to improve surface cover classifications. Selected areas representing each spectral class were chosen and transferred to USGS 1:62,500 topographic maps for field use. Ground truth data were gathered to verify the accuracy of the classifications. Acreages were computed for each of the land cover types. The application of elevational data to seasonal LANDSAT frames resulted in the separation of high elevation meadows (both with and without recently emergent perennial vegetation) as well as areas in oak forests which have an evergreen understory as opposed to other areas which do not.

Cibula, W. G.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Application of SEASAT-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data to enhance and detect geological lineaments and to assist LANDSAT landcover classification mapping

Digital SEASAT-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data were used to enhance linear features to extract geologically significant lineaments in the Appalachian region. Comparison of Lineaments thus mapped with an existing lineament map based on LANDSAT MSS images shows that appropriately processed SEASAT-1 SAR data can significantly improve the detection of lineaments. Merge MSS and SAR data sets were more useful fo lineament detection and landcover classification than LANDSAT or SEASAT data alone. About 20 percent of the lineaments plotted from the SEASAT SAR image did not appear on the LANDSAT image. About 6 percent of minor lineaments or parts of lineaments present in the LANDSAT map were missing from the SEASAT map. Improvement in the landcover classification (acreage and spatial estimation accuracy) was attained by using MSS-SAR merged data. The aerial estimation of residential/built-up and forest categories was improved. Accuracy in estimating the agricultural and water categories was slightly reduced.

Sekhon, R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A summary of recent developments in transportation hazard classification activities for ammonium perchlorate

The transportation hazard classification of Ammonium Perchlorate is discussed. A test program was completed and data were forwarded to retain a Class 5.1 designation (oxidizer) for AP which is shipped internationally. As a follow-on to the initial team effort to conduct AP tests existing data were examined and a matrix which catalogs test parameters and findings was compiled. A collection of test protocols is developed to standardize test methods for energetic materials of all types. The actions to date are summarized; the participating organizations and their roles as presently understood; specific findings on AP (matrix); and issues, lessons learned, and potential actions of particular interest to the propulsion community which may evolve as a result of future U.N. propellant transportation classification activities.

Koller, A. M., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Classification of the Johnson Space Center stratospheric dust collection

Data on the nature of dust in the upper atmosphere have been provided by a stratospheric dust collection program. This program makes it possible to study in detail materials related to early solar system history. A comprehensive overview of the stratospheric collection program provides a basis for a better understanding of stratospheric dust origins. It is important for the development of this understanding that easily accessible criteria for classification be established. The present investigation is concerned with the development of a suitable classification scheme for the obtained stratospheric materials. Three sets of eight collectors were flown on WB57 high-altitude aircraft during August and September, 1981, as part of the considered collection program. Three of the 24 impactors (flags) have undergone preliminary examination. The current investigation is concerned with selected data on materials from flags W7010, W7017, and W7029.

Mackinnon, I. D. R.↗