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At least 127 records · Page 7

Statistical separability and classification of land use classes using image-100

The author has identified the following significant results. The statistical separability of land use classes in the subsets of one to four spectral channels was investigated. Using ground observations and aerial photography, the MSS data of LANDSAT were analyzed with the Image-100. In the subsets of one to three spectral channels, channel 4, channel 4 & 7, and channels 4, 5, & 7 were found to be the best choices (ch.4 - 0.5 to 0.6 microns, ch. 5 - 0.6 to 0.7 microns, ch. 6 - 0.7 to 0.8 microns, and ch. 7 - 0.8 to 1.1 microns). For the single cell option of the Image-100, the errors of omission varied from 5% for the industrial class to 46% for the institutional class. The errors of commission varied from 11% for the commercial class to 39% for the industrial class. On the whole, the sample classifier gave considerably more accurate results compared to the single cell or multicell option.

Dejesusparada, N.↗

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.↗

Comparative techniques used to evaluate Thematic Mapper data for land cover classification in Logan County, West Virginia

Several digital data processing techniques were evaluated in an effort to identify and map active/abandoned, partially reclaimed, and fully revegetated surface mine areas in the central portion of Logan County. The TM data were first subjected to various enhancement procedures, including a linear contrast stretch, principal components and canonical analysis transformations. At the same time, four general procedures were followed to produce six classifications as a means of comparing the techniques involved. Preliminary results show that various feature extraction/data reduction techniques provide classification results equal or superior to the more straightforward unsupervised clustering technique. Analyst interaction time for labelling clusters is reduced using the canonical analysis and principal components procedures, though the canonical technique has clearly produced better results to date.

Brumfield, J. O.↗

Effect of Landsat Thematic Mapper sensor parameters on land cover classification

Selected sensor parameter differences between TM and MSS were assessed through classification performance of a suburban/regional test site. Overall classification accuracy of a seven-band Landsat TM scene in comparison to MSS yielded an improvement in accuracy from 74.8 percent to 83.2 percent. To study the possible causes for the difference in classification performance, key sensor parameter differences between MSS and TM, including: (1) spatial resolution (30 m for TM versus 80 m for MSS), (2) quantization level (256 levels for TM versus 64 for MSS), and (3) spectral regions (seven bands in four major spectral regions for TM versus four bands in two regions for MSS), were evaluated. Landsat TM data were processed to stimulate all possible combinations of these MSS and TM parameters, yielding a three-factor design with two levels per factor. The results indicated that the added spectral regions (TM 1, TM 5, and TM 7) and to a lesser degree the increase in quantization level to eight bits produced the improved TM classification accuracy. However, in this study, the higher 30 m spatial resolution of TM contributed to a reduced classification accuracy from increased within-field variability or class heterogeneity.

Toll, D. L.↗

A comparison of Landsat point and rectangular field training sets for land-use classification

Rectangular training fields of homogeneous spectroreflectance are commonly used in supervised pattern recognition efforts. Trial image classification with manually selected training sets gives irregular and misleading results due to statistical bias. A self-verifying, grid-sampled training point approach is proposed as a more statistically valid feature extraction technique. A systematic pixel sampling network of every ninth row and ninth column efficiently replaced the full image scene with smaller statistical vectors which preserved the necessary characteristics for classification. The composite second- and third-order average classification accuracy of 50.1 percent for 331,776 pixels in the full image substantially agreed with the 51 percent value predicted by the grid-sampled, 4,100-point training set.

Tom, C. H.↗

Remote sensing application to regional activities

Two agencies within the State of Tennessee were identified whereby the transfer of aerospace technology, namely remote sensing, could be applied to their stated problem areas. Their stated problem areas are wetland and land classification and strip mining studies. In both studies, LANDSAT data was analyzed with the UTSI video-input analog/digital automatic analysis and classification facility. In the West Tennessee area three land-use classifications could be distinguished; cropland, wetland, and forest. In the East Tennessee study area, measurements were submitted to statistical tests which verified the significant differences due to natural terrain, stripped areas, various stages of reclamation, water, etc. Classifications for both studies were output in the form of maps of symbols and varying shades of gray.

Shahrokhi, F.↗

Watershed and Hydrodynamic Modeling for Evaluating the Impact of Land Use Change on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation and Seagrasses in Mobile Bay

There is a continued need to understand how human activities along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast are impacting the natural ecosystems. The gulf coast is experiencing rapid population growth and associated land cover/land use change. Mobile Bay, AL is a designated pilot region of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) and is the focus area of many current NASA and NOAA studies, for example. This is a critical region, both ecologically and economically to the entire United States because it has the fourth largest freshwater inflow in the continental USA, is a vital nursery habitat for commercially and recreational important fisheries, and houses a working waterfront and port that is expanding. Watershed and hydrodynamic modeling has been performed for Mobile Bay to evaluate the impact of land use change in Mobile and Baldwin counties on the aquatic ecosystem. Watershed modeling using the Loading Simulation Package in C++ (LSPC) was performed for all watersheds contiguous to Mobile Bay for land use Scenarios in 1948, 1992, 2001, and 2030. The Prescott Spatial Growth Model was used to project the 2030 land use scenario based on observed trends. All land use scenarios were developed to a common land classification system developed by merging the 1992 and 2001 National Land Cover Data (NLCD). The LSPC model output provides changes in flow, temperature, sediments and general water quality for 22 discharge points into the Bay. These results were inputted in the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Computer Code (EFDC) hydrodynamic model to generate data on changes in temperature, salinity, and sediment concentrations on a grid with four vertical profiles throughout the Bay s aquatic ecosystems. The models were calibrated using in-situ data collected at sampling stations in and around Mobile bay. This phase of the project has focused on sediment modeling because of its significant influence on light attenuation which is a critical factor in the health of submerged aquatic vegetation. The impact of land use change on sediment concentrations was evaluated by analyzing the LSPC and EFDC sediment simulations for the four land use scenarios. Such analysis was also performed for storm and non-storm periods. In- situ data of total suspended sediments (TSS) and light attenuation were used to develop a regression model to estimate light attenuation from TSS. This regression model was used to derive marine light attenuation estimates throughout Mobile bay using the EFDC TSS outputs. The changes in sediment concentrations and associated impact on light attenuation in the aquatic ecosystem were used to perform an ecological analysis to evaluate the impact on seagreasses and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) habitat. This is the key product benefiting the Mobile Bay coastal environmental managers that integrates the influences of sediments due to land use driven flow changes with the restoration potential of SAVs.

Estes, Maurice G.↗

WET Water Resources: A Google Earth Engine Python API Tool to Automate Wetland Extent Mapping Using Radar Satellite Sensors for Wetland Management and Monitoring

Wetland ecosystems are annually or seasonally wet transition zones between land and water. They provide a range of ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood mitigation, and carbon sequestration, as well as hosting biodiversity hotspots. Although they fulfill fundamental physical and natural processes, wetland extent and health are threatened by anthropogenic influences related to urbanization, population increase, pollution, and climate change. Recognizing the need to quantitatively monitor changes in these recently threatened ecosystems in a timely and cost-effective way, we developed a Google Earth Engine (GEE) Python API tool for automated wetland extent mapping using optical and radar satellite sensors that can be applied globally. The tool will significantly improve wetland change analysis and monitoring as SAR data provides high resolution (5-10 m) imagery, unaffected by cloud cover and light availability (day vs. night), common limitations for other remotely sensed sensors. The tool utilizes Copernicus Sentinel-1 C-band and NISAR L-band (once operational and available on the GEE repository) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. During image preprocessing, we applied a Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow product to determine regional snow coverage, which affects land classification sensitivity. Calibration and validation were conducted through a historical change and sensitivity analysis of the Sudd wetland located in central Sudan. The tool was the first of its kind, as it enables NISAR data processing through an open-source GEE repository, further expanding and improving the utility of NASA Earth observations and contributing to NASA Open Science initiatives. We anticipate the tool will be used by researchers and practitioners interested in wetland monitoring and management.

Inundation↗

Remote sensing of physiographic soil units of Bennett County, South Dakota

A study was conducted in Bennett County, South Dakota, to establish a rangeland test site for evaluating the usefulness of ERTS data for mapping soil resources in rangeland areas. Photographic imagery obtained in October, 1970, was analyzed to determine which type of imagery is best for mapping drainage and land use patterns. Imagery of scales ranging from 1:1,000,000 to 1.20,000 was used to delineate soil-vegetative physiographic units. The photo characteristics used to define physiographic units were texture, drainage pattern, tone pattern, land use pattern and tone. These units will be used as test data for evaluating ERTS data. The physiographic units were categorized into a land classification system. The various categories which were delineated at the different scales of imagery were designed to be useful for different levels of land use planning. The land systems are adequate only for planning of large areas for general uses. The lowest category separated was the facet. The facets have a definite soil composition and represent different soil landscapes. These units are thought to be useful for providing natural resource information needed for local planning.

Frazee, C. J.↗

Spatial controls of methane uptake in upland soils across climatic and geological regions in Greenland

Abstract In the Arctic, the spatiotemporal variation of net methane uptake in upland soils depends on unresolved interactive controls between edaphic and microbial factors not yet included in current models, underpinning the uncertainty of upscaling the Arctic methane budget. Here we show that upland soils in Greenland are consistent methane sinks (−1.83 ± 0.19 nmol methane g −1 dw d −1 ) across a N-S (64–83 °N) pedoclimatic transect. We demonstrate that methane oxidizers abundance, soil pH, and available soil copper are important controls on the spatial variation in methane oxidation. We revised a soil biogeochemical model with a high-resolution land classification and meteorological data for Greenland and tested it against our methane uptake measurements. The model simulated well the magnitudes of observed methane uptake but not the spatial variation across all sites. This work provides novel insights into the controls of methane uptake, which are critical for the accuracy of methane budgets.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗

Monitoring forest land from high altitude and from space

Forest inventory, forest stress, and standardization and calibration studies are presented. These include microscale photointerpretation of forest and nonforest land classes, multiseasonal film densities for automated forest and nonforest land classification, trend and spread of bark beetle infestations from 1968 through 1971, aerial photography for determining optimum levels of stand density to reduce such infestations, use of airborne spectrometers and multispectral scanners for previsual detection of Ponderosa pine trees under stress from insects and diseases, establishment of an earth resources technology satellite test site in the Black Hills and the identification of natural resolution targets, detection of root disease impact on forest stands by sequential orbital and suborbital multispectral photography, and calibration of color aerial photography.

Source record↗

Earth Resources Technology Satellite data collection project, ERTS - Bolivia

The Earth Resources Technology Satellite program of Bolivia has developed a multidisciplinary project to carry out investigations in cartography and to prepare various thematic maps. In cartography, investigations are being carried out with the ERTS-1 images and with existing maps, to determine their application to the preparation of new cartographic products on one hand and on the other to map those regions where the cartography is still deficient. The application of the MSS images to the geological mapping has given more than satisfactory results. Working with conventional photointerpretation, it has been possible to prepare regional geological maps, tectonic maps, studies relative to mining, geomorphological maps, studies relative to petroleum exploration, volcanological maps and maps of hydrologic basins. In agriculture, the ERTS images are used to study land classification and forest and soils mapping.

Brockmann, C. E.↗

Machine processing of remotely sensed data; Proceedings of the Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., October 16-18, 1973

Topics discussed include the management and processing of earth resources information, special-purpose processors for the machine processing of remotely sensed data, digital image registration by a mathematical programming technique, the use of remote-sensor data in land classification (in particular, the use of ERTS-1 multispectral scanning data), the use of remote-sensor data in geometrical transformations and mapping, earth resource measurement with the aid of ERTS-1 multispectral scanning data, the use of remote-sensor data in the classification of turbidity levels in coastal zones and in the identification of ecological anomalies, the problem of feature selection and the classification of objects in multispectral images, the estimation of proportions of certain categories of objects, and a number of special systems and techniques. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Source record↗

Earth resources observation with the Shuttle imaging radar

To fully understand the radar signature of different surface features and covers, observations must be made in a variety of sensor parameters (that is, frequency, polarization, and incidence angle). This makes it possible to choose those sensor parameters that will provide the greatest amount of information about the surface. The Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR) will be able to obtain surface images at two frequencies (L-band and C-band), at multiple polarizations, and at all incidence angles from near vertical to near grazing. The SIR will operate in the synthetic aperture imaging mode and provide digital images of the surfaces with a resolution of approximately 20 m. As part of the SIR flights, a number of planned large-scale experiments will be carried out in the fields of geologic mapping, vegetation classification, land cover mapping, surface moisture measurements, and ocean surface observation.

Elachi, C.↗

Global digital data sets of soil type, soil texture, surface slope and other properties: Documentation of archived data tape

The file structure and coding of four soils data sets derived from the Zobler (1986) world soil file is described. The data were digitized on a one-degree square grid. They are suitable for large-area studies such as climate research with general circulation models, as well as in forestry, agriculture, soils, and hydrology. The first file is a data set of codes for soil unit, land-ice, or water, for all the one-degree square cells on Earth. The second file is a data set of codes for texture, land-ice, or water, for the same soil units. The third file is a data set of codes for slope, land-ice, or water for the same units. The fourth file is the SOILWRLD data set, containing information on soil properties of land cells of both Matthews' and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sources. The fourth file reconciles land-classification differences between the two and has missing data filled in.

Staub, B.↗

(abstract) Studies of Interferometric Penetration into Vegetation Canopies using Multifrequency Interferometry Data at JPL

Radar interferometric observations both from spaceborne and airborne platforms have been used to generate accurate topographic maps, measure milimeter level displacements from earthquakes and volcanoes, and for making land cover classification and land cover change maps. Interferometric observations have two basic measurements, interferometric phase, which depends upon the path difference between the two antennas and the correlation. One of the key questions concerning interferometric observations of vegetated regions is where in the canopy does the interferometric phase measure the height. Results for two methods of extracting tree heights and other vegetation parameters based upon the amount of volumetric decorrelation will be presented.

radar interferometry vegetation land cover↗