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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Use of remote sensing for land use policy formulation

Research projects described include: (1) identifying coniferous forest types in Michigan using LANDSAT imagery; (2) investigating synoptic temperature patterns in Michigan as determined via GOES and HCMM thermal imagery; (3) land surface change detection using satellite data and a geographic data base; (4) determining soil map unit composition by electronic scanning densitometry; and (5) delimiting areas of virus infection in vineyards and blueberry fields in southwestern and western Michigan. Contractual activities involve important farmlands inventory, changes in aquatic vegetation in Saginaw Bay, digitized soil association map of Michigan, and aerial photography for hybrid-poplar research. On-going projects are also being conducted in Jamaica, Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Kenya.

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NASA NTRS1973

Applications of thermal remote sensing to detailed ground water studies

Three possible applications of thermal (8-14 microns) remote sensing to detailed hydrogeologic studies are discussed in this paper: (1) the direct detection of seeps and springs, (2) the indirect evaluation of shallow ground water flow through its thermal effects on the land surface, and (3) the indirect location of small volumes of ground water inflow into surface water bodies. An investigation carried out with this purpose in an area containing a complex shallow ground water flow system indicates that the interpretation of the thermal imageries is complicated by many factors, among which the most important are: (1) altitude, angle of view, and thermal-spatial resolution of the sensor; (2) vegetation type, density, and vigor; (3) topography; (4) climatological and micrometeorological effects; (5) variation in soil type and soil moisture; (6) variation in volume and temperature of ground water inflow; (7) the hydraulic characteristics of the receiving water body, and (8) the presence of decaying organic material.

Souto-Maior, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Applicability of Satellite Freeze Forecasting and Cold Climate Mapping to the Other Parts of the United States

Tasks performed to determine the value of using GOES satellite thermal imagery to enhance fruit crop production in Michigan are described. An overview is presented of the system developed for image processing and thermal image and surface environmental data bases prepared to assess the physical models developed in Florida. These data bases were used to identify correlations between satellite apparent temperatures patterns and Earth surface factors. Significant freeze events in 1981 and the physical models used to provide a perspective on how Florida models can be applied in the context of the Michigan environment are discussed.

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NASA NTRS2024

On-Orbit Spatial Performance Characterization for Thermal Infrared Imagers of Landsat 7, 8, and 9, ECOSTRESS and CTI

In this analysis of the spatial resolving power of thermal imagery products we focus on four satellite instruments that are used in research and applications, for example to monitor land surface temperature and derive evapotranspiration. These are thermal imagers on Landsat 7, Landsat 8, and Landsat 9, as well as the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS). We compiled sets of close-in-time, day-time images of bridges surrounded by open water bodies, captured by each of the satellite imagers during cloud-free moments. Where possible, we also included some images captured by the Compact Thermal Imager (CTI), a technology demonstrator that was co-located with ECOSTRESS on the International Space Station in 2019. Bridges were found to provide a sufficient thermal contrast with the water surface to quantify the line-spread function of satellite-based thermal products. The full-width-at-half-max of a gaussian beam model fitted to this transect quantifies the on-orbit spatial resolution of different imagers. The results show some loss of spatial resolving power in the final product delivered to end-users as compared to the at-sensor characterization of spatial resolution. For Landsat 7, 8 and 9, the spatial resolution of the thermal bands is 1.5 times the ground sampling distance of 60 m and 100 m respectively. For the ECOSTRESS the difference is up to twice the sampling distance of 78 by 69 m2. Since spatial resolution is a main driver for instrument design it is important to understand and communicate this discrepancy between pre-flight design parameters and the characteristics of the surface imagery delivered to the user community. The goal of this research is to facilitate an improved fusion of current and future satellite observations into harmonized products with superior temporal and spatial characteristics.

thermal infrared↗
NASA NTRS2012

Thermographic Imaging of the Space Shuttle During Re-Entry Using a Near Infrared Sensor

High resolution calibrated near infrared (NIR) imagery of the Space Shuttle Orbiter was obtained during hypervelocity atmospheric re-entry of the STS-119, STS-125, STS-128, STS-131, STS-132, STS-133, and STS-134 missions. This data has provided information on the distribution of surface temperature and the state of the airflow over the windward surface of the Orbiter during descent. The thermal imagery complemented data collected with onboard surface thermocouple instrumentation. The spatially resolved global thermal measurements made during the Orbiter s hypersonic re-entry will provide critical flight data for reducing the uncertainty associated with present day ground-to-flight extrapolation techniques and current state-of-the-art empirical boundary-layer transition or turbulent heating prediction methods. Laminar and turbulent flight data is critical for the validation of physics-based, semi-empirical boundary-layer transition prediction methods as well as stimulating the validation of laminar numerical chemistry models and the development of turbulence models supporting NASA s next-generation spacecraft. In this paper we provide details of the NIR imaging system used on both air and land-based imaging assets. The paper will discuss calibrations performed on the NIR imaging systems that permitted conversion of captured radiant intensity (counts) to temperature values. Image processing techniques are presented to analyze the NIR data for vignetting distortion, best resolution, and image sharpness. Keywords: HYTHIRM, Space Shuttle thermography, hypersonic imaging, near infrared imaging, histogram analysis, singular value decomposition, eigenvalue image sharpness

Zalameda, Joseph N.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Demonstrating Acquisition of Real-Time Thermal Data Over Fires Utilizing UAVs

A disaster mitigation demonstration, designed to integrate remote-piloted aerial platforms, a thermal infrared imaging payload, over-the-horizon (OTH) data telemetry and advanced image geo-rectification technologies was initiated in 2001. Project FiRE incorporates the use of a remotely piloted Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV), thermal imagery, and over-the-horizon satellite data telemetry to provide geo-corrected data over a controlled burn, to a fire management community in near real-time. The experiment demonstrated the use of a thermal multi-spectral scanner, integrated on a large payload capacity UAV, distributing data over-the-horizon via satellite communication telemetry equipment, and precision geo-rectification of the resultant data on the ground for data distribution to the Internet. The use of the UAV allowed remote-piloted flight (thereby reducing the potential for loss of human life during hazardous missions), and the ability to "finger and stare" over the fire for extended periods of time (beyond the capabilities of human-pilot endurance). Improved bit-rate capacity telemetry capabilities increased the amount, structure, and information content of the image data relayed to the ground. The integration of precision navigation instrumentation allowed improved accuracies in geo-rectification of the resultant imagery, easing data ingestion and overlay in a GIS framework. We focus on these technological advances and demonstrate how these emerging technologies can be readily integrated to support disaster mitigation and monitoring strategies regionally and nationally.

Ambrosia, Vincent G.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Thermal scanner data for studying freeze conditions and for aiding irrigation scheduling

The use of thermal imagery in connection with plant water stress appears to hold considerable potential, particularly with scanners such as the RS-14 where internal calibration sources can be adjusted to bracket the temperatures of interest. The data from the thermal film are fairly easy to reduce; however, data reduction in 3 days or less would be required before it could be used in irrigation timing.

Bartholic, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Application of remote thermal scanning to the NASA energy conservation program

Airborne thermal scans of all NASA centers were made during 1975 and 1976. The remotely sensed data were used to identify a variety of heat losses, including those from building roofs and central heating system distribution lines. Thermal imagery from several NASA centers is presented to demonstrate the capability of detecting these heat losses remotely. Many heat loss areas located by the scan data were verified by ground surveys. At this point, at least for such energy-intensive areas, thermal scanning is an excellent means of detecting many possible energy losses.

Bowman, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Radar and infrared remote sensing of terrain, water resources, arctic sea ice, and agriculture

Radar range measurements, basic waveforms of radar systems, and radar displays are initially described. These are followed by backscatter from several types of terrain and vegetation as a function of frequency and grazing angle. Analytical models for this backscatter include the facet models of radar return, with range-angle, velocity-range, velocity-angle, range, velocity, and angular only discriminations. Several side-looking airborne radar geometries are presented. Radar images of Arctic sea ice, fresh water lake ice, cloud-covered terrain, and related areas are presented to identify applications of radar imagery. Volume scatter models are applied to radar imagery from alpine snowfields. Short pulse ice thickness radar for subsurface probes is discussed in fresh-water ice and sea ice detection. Infrared scanners, including multispectral, are described. Diffusion of cold water into a river, Arctic sea ice, power plant discharges, volcanic heat, and related areas are presented in thermal imagery. Multispectral radar and infrared imagery are discussed, with comparisons of photographic, infrared, and radar imagery of the same terrain or subjects.

Biggs, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Simulation of Wake Vortex Radiometric Detection via Jet Exhaust Proxy

This paper describes an analysis of the potential of an airborne hyperspectral imaging IR instrument to infer wake vortices via turbine jet exhaust as a proxy. The goal was to determine the requirements for an imaging spectrometer or radiometer to effectively detect the exhaust plume, and by inference, the location of the wake vortices. The effort examines the gas spectroscopy of the various major constituents of turbine jet exhaust and their contributions to the modeled detectable radiance. Initially, a theoretical analysis of wake vortex proxy detection by thermal radiation was realized in a series of simulations. The first stage used the SLAB plume model to simulate turbine jet exhaust plume characteristics, including exhaust gas transport dynamics and concentrations. The second stage used these plume characteristics as input to the Line By Line Radiative Transfer Model (LBLRTM) to simulate responses from both an imaging IR hyperspectral spectrometer or radiometer. These numerical simulations generated thermal imagery that was compared with previously reported wake vortex temperature data. This research is a continuation of an effort to specify the requirements for an imaging IR spectrometer or radiometer to make wake vortex measurements. Results of the two-stage simulation will be reported, including instrument specifications for wake vortex thermal detection. These results will be compared with previously reported results for IR imaging spectrometer performance.

Daniels, Taumi S.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Virtual Sensors: Using Data Mining to Efficiently Estimate Spectra

Detecting clouds within a satellite image is essential for retrieving surface geophysical parameters, such as albedo and temperature, from optical and thermal imagery because the retrieval methods tend to be valid for clear skies only. Thus, routine satellite data processing requires reliable automated cloud detection algorithms that are applicable to many surface types. Unfortunately, cloud detection over snow and ice is difficult due to the lack of spectral contrast between clouds and snow. Snow and clouds are both highly reflective in the visible wavelen,ats and often show little contrast in the thermal Infrared. However, at 1.6 microns, the spectral signatures of snow and clouds differ enough to allow improved snow/ice/cloud discrimination. The recent Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MODIS) sensors have a channel (channel 6) at 1.6 microns. Presently the most comprehensive, long-term information on surface albedo and temperature over snow- and ice-covered surfaces comes from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer ( AVHRR) sensor that has been providing imagery since July 1981. The earlier AVHRR sensors (e.g. AVHRR/2) did not however have a channel designed for discriminating clouds from snow, such as the 1.6 micron channel available on the more recent AVHRR/3 or the MODIS sensors. In the absence of the 1.6 micron channel, the AVHRR Polar Pathfinder (APP) product performs cloud detection using a combination of time-series analysis and multispectral threshold tests based on the satellite's measuring channels to produce a cloud mask. The method has been found to work reasonably well over sea ice, but not so well over the ice sheets. Thus, improving the cloud mask in the APP dataset would be extremely helpful toward increasing the accuracy of the albedo and temperature retrievals, as well as extending the time-series of albedo and temperature retrievals from the more recent sensors to the historical ones. In this work, we use data mining methods to construct a model of MODIS channel 6 as a function of other channels that are common to both MODIS and AVHRR. The idea is to use the model to generate the equivalent of MODIS channel 6 for AVHRR as a function of the AVHRR equivalents to MODIS channels. We call this a Virtual Sensor because it predicts unmeasured spectra. The goal is to use this virtual channel 6. to yield a cloud mask superior to what is currently used in APP . Our results show that several data mining methods such as multilayer perceptrons (MLPs), ensemble methods (e.g., bagging), and kernel methods (e.g., support vector machines) generate channel 6 for unseen MODIS images with high accuracy. Because the true channel 6 is not available for AVHRR images, we qualitatively assess the virtual channel 6 for several AVHRR images.

Srivastava, Ashok↗
NASA NTRS1973

Volcanic activity and satellite-detected thermal anomalies at Central American volcanoes

The author has identified the following significant results. A large nuee ardente eruption occurred at Santiaguito volcano, within the test area on 16 September 1973. Through a system of local observers, the eruption has been described, reported to the international scientific community, extent of affected area mapped, and the new ash sampled. A more extensive report on this event will be prepared. The eruption is an excellent example of the kind of volcanic situation in which satellite thermal imagery might be useful. The Santiaguito dome is a complex mass with a whole series of historically active vents. It's location makes access difficult, yet its activity is of great concern to large agricultural populations who live downslope. Santiaguito has produced a number of large eruptions with little apparent warning. In the earlier ground survey large thermal anomalies were identified at Santiaguito. There is no way of knowing whether satellite monitoring could have detected changes in thermal anomaly patterns related to this recent event, but the position of thermal anomalies on Santiaguito and any changes in their character would be relevant information.

Stoiber, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A feasibility study of using remotely sensed data for water resource models

Remotely sensed data were collected to demonstrate the feasibility of applying the results to water resource problems. Photographs of the Wolf Creek watershed in southwestern Colorado were collected over a one year period. Cloud top temperatures were measured using a radiometer. Thermal imagery of the Wolf Creek Pass area was obtained during one pre-dawn flight. Remote sensing studies of water resource problems for user agencies were also conducted. The results indicated that: (1) remote sensing techniques could be used to assist in the solution of water resource problems; (2) photogrammetric determination of snow depths is feasible; (3) changes in turbidity or suspended material concentration can be observed; and (4) surface turbulence can be related to bed scour; and (5) thermal effluents into rivers can be monitored.

Ruff, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Autonomous Sensorweb Operations for Integrated Space, In-Situ Monitoring of Volcanic Activity

We have deployed and demonstrated operations of an integrated space in-situ sensorweb for monitoring volcanic activity. This sensorweb includes a network of ground sensors deployed to the Mount Saint Helens volcano as well as the Earth Observing One spacecraft. The ground operations and space operations are interlinked in that ground-based intelligent event detections can cause the space segment to acquire additional data via observation requests and space-based data acquisitions (thermal imagery) can trigger reconfigurations of the ground network to allocate increased bandwidth to areas of the network best situated to observe the activity. The space-based operations are enabled by an automated mission planning and tasking capability which utilizes several Opengeospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensorweb Enablement (SWE) standards which enable acquiring data, alerts, and tasking using web services. The ground-based segment also supports similar protocols to enable seamless tasking and data delivery. The space-based segment also supports onboard development of data products (thermal summary images indicating areas of activity, quicklook context images, and thermal activity alerts). These onboard developed products have reduced data volume (compared to the complete images) which enables them to be transmitted to the ground more rapidly in engineering channels.

Chien, Steve A.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Assessment and Mission Planning Capability For Quantitative Aerothermodynamic Flight Measurements Using Remote Imaging

High resolution calibrated infrared imagery of vehicles during hypervelocity atmospheric entry or sustained hypersonic cruise has the potential to provide flight data on the distribution of surface temperature and the state of the airflow over the vehicle. In the early 1980 s NASA sought to obtain high spatial resolution infrared imagery of the Shuttle during entry. Despite mission execution with a technically rigorous pre-planning capability, the single airborne optical system for this attempt was considered developmental and the scientific return was marginal. In 2005 the Space Shuttle Program again sponsored an effort to obtain imagery of the Orbiter. Imaging requirements were targeted towards Shuttle ascent; companion requirements for entry did not exist. The engineering community was allowed to define observation goals and incrementally demonstrate key elements of a quantitative spatially resolved measurement capability over a series of flights. These imaging opportunities were extremely beneficial and clearly demonstrated capability to capture infrared imagery with mature and operational assets of the US Navy and the Missile Defense Agency. While successful, the usefulness of the imagery was, from an engineering perspective, limited. These limitations were mainly associated with uncertainties regarding operational aspects of data acquisition. These uncertainties, in turn, came about because of limited pre-flight mission planning capability, a poor understanding of several factors including the infrared signature of the Shuttle, optical hardware limitations, atmospheric effects and detector response characteristics. Operational details of sensor configuration such as detector integration time and tracking system algorithms were carried out ad hoc (best practices) which led to low probability of target acquisition and detector saturation. Leveraging from the qualified success during Return-to-Flight, the NASA Engineering and Safety Center sponsored an assessment study focused on increasing the probability of returning spatially resolved scientific/engineering thermal imagery. This paper provides an overview of the assessment task and the systematic approach designed to establish confidence in the ability of existing assets to reliably acquire, track and return global quantitative surface temperatures of the Shuttle during entry. A discussion of capability demonstration in support of a potential Shuttle boundary layer transition flight test is presented. Successful demonstration of a quantitative, spatially resolved, global temperature measurement on the proposed Shuttle boundary layer transition flight test could lead to potential future applications with hypersonic flight test programs within the USAF and DARPA along with flight test opportunities supporting NASA s project Constellation.

Horvath, Thomas↗
NASA NTRS1970

Spectral reflectance characteristics and automated data reduction techniques which identify wetland and water quality conditions in the Chesapeake Bay

Progress on research designed to test the usability of multispectral, high altitude, remotely sensed data to analyze ecological and hydrological conditions in estuarine environments is presented. Emphasis was placed on data acquired by NASA aircraft over the Patuxent River Chesapeake Bay Test Site, No. 168. Missions were conducted over the Chesapeake Bay at a high altitude flight of 18,460 m and a low altitude flight of 3070. The principle objectives of the missions were: (1) to determine feasibility of identifying source and extent of water pollution problems in Baltimore Harbor, Chesapeake Bay and major tributaries utilizing high altitude, ERTS analogous remote sensing data; (2) to determine the feasibility of mapping species composition and general ecological condition of Chesapeake Bay wetlands, utilizing high altitude, ERTS analogous data; (3) to correlate ground spectral reflectance characteristics of wetland plant species with tonal characteristics on multispectral photography; (4) to determine usefulness of high altitude thermal imagery in delinating isotherms and current patterns in the Chesapeake Bay; and (5) to investigate automated data interpretive techniques which may be usable on high altitude, ERTS analogous data.

Anderson, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Red River chloride remote sensing study

Side looking radar, infrared thermal imagery and color photography, together with a few examples of black and white panoramic photos, are used to supplement information on the natural saline pollution problem that is hydrologically and geologically oriented. The study area was explored concurrently by ground methods and a reasonably good understanding of hydrogeological conditions has been achieved. Examples of the products acquired, their interpretation, and use techniques are included.

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