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At least 163 records · Page 9

Application of remote sensing technology to the solution of problems in the management of resources in Indiana

The author has identified the following significant results. The Lydick, South Bend West, South Bend East, and Osceola quadrangles were successfully classified into twenty-six cover types with a high degree of accuracy. The ability of this computer-assisted classification system to delineate various stages of urban development, from heavy industry to new suburban development, was of particular interest to the planning commission. The classification is clearly more beneficial than the existing agricultural soils and topographic maps, because it shows the current ground cover conditions all on one map. It shows how an area is developing along with the specific type and location of new development. The classification also shows at a glance whether development is taking place in an area suitable for development or if growth is taking place in prime agricultural land, areas of poor foundation material, or other places where development is not desirable.

Weismiller, R. A.↗

Remote sensing applications to hydrologic modeling in the southern Sierra Nevada and portions of the San Joaquin Valley, volume 1

The author has identified the following significant results. Characteristics of LANDSAT MSS imagery present problems in using satellite radiation measurements to estimate the shortwave albedo of an alpine snow cover. Every 15 minute USGS quadrangle contains over 100,000 pixels which poses a computation problem if each pixel is to be evaluated individually. The sampling interval may be sufficiently great to mask some effects of terrain and vegetation on reflectance. Three frames of LANDSAT imagery are needed for complete coverage of the study area, yet less than one third of the area coverage from each frame covers an area of interest. Because of distortions inherent in the imagery, information regarding spacecraft altitude, attitude, and position must be statistically derived with respect to ground control points in the image whose geodetic locations are known. An inspection of shade points indicates that up to one third of the most heavily snow covered areas may saturate in bands 4 through 6. LANDSAT's 9 day repeat cycle is not optimum for snow cover reflectance modeling because the most pronounced changes in albedo occur most nearly following a new snowfall. Such a snowfall, occurring between overpasses, is inadequately represented by extrapolation from the previous overpasses.

Dozier, J.↗

Moon-Mercury - Relative preservation states of secondary craters

Geologic studies including mapping of the Kuiper quadrangle of Mercury suggest that secondary craters are much better preserved than those on the moon. Factors which may account for the apparent differences between lunar and Mercurian secondary crater morphology include: (1) the rapid isostatic adjustment of the parent crater, (2) different impact fluxes of the two planets, (3) the greater concentration of Mercurian secondaries around impact areas, and (4) differences in crater ejection velocities. It has been shown that the ejection velocities on Mercury are about 50% greater than those on the moon at equivalent ranges. This may account for morphologically enhanced secondary craters, and may explain their better preservation with time.

Scott, D. H.↗

A method for the processing and analysis of digital terrain elevation data

A method is presented for the processing and analysis of digital topography data that can subsequently be entered in an interactive data base in the form of slope, slope length, elevation, and aspect angle. A discussion of the data source and specific descriptions of the data processing software programs are included. In addition, the mathematical considerations involved in the registration of raw digitized coordinate points to the UTM coordinate system are presented. Scale factor considerations are also included. Results of the processing and analysis are illustrated using the Shiprock and Gallup Quadrangle test data.

Junkin, B. G.↗

Improving streamflow estimates through the use of LANDSAT

Estimates of low flow and flood frequency in several southwestern Wisconsin basins were improved by determining land cover from LANDSAT imagery. With the use of estimates of land cover in multiple-regression techniques, the standard error of estimate (SE) for the least annual 7-day low flow for 2- and 10-year recurrence intervals of ungaged sites were lowered by 9% each. The SE of flood frequency in the 'Driftless Area' of Wisconsin for 10-, 50-, and 100-year recurrence intervals were lowered by 14%. Four of nine basin characteristics determined from satellite imagery were significant variables in the multiple-regression techniques, whereas only 1 of the 12 characteristics determined from topographic maps was significant. The percentages of land cover categories in each basin were determined by merging basin boundaries, digitized from quadrangles, with a classified LANDSAT scene. Both the basin boundary X-Y polygon coordinates and the satellite coordinates were converted to latitude-longitude for merging compatibility.

Allord, G. J.↗

Training site statistics from Landsat and Seasat satellite imagery registered to a common map base

Landsat and Seasat satellite imagery and training site boundary coordinates were registered to a common Universal Transverse Mercator map base in the Newport Beach area of Orange County, California. The purpose was to establish a spatially-registered, multi-sensor data base which would test the use of Seasat synthetic aperture radar imagery to improve spectral separability of channels used for land use classification of an urban area. Digital image processing techniques originally developed for the digital mosaics of the California Desert and the State of Arizona were adapted to spatially register multispectral and radar data. Techniques included control point selection from imagery and USGS topographic quadrangle maps, control point cataloguing with the Image Based Information System, and spatial and spectral rectifications of the imagery. The radar imagery was pre-processed to reduce its tendency toward uniform data distributions, so that training site statistics for selected Landsat and pre-processed Seasat imagery indicated good spectral separation between channels.

Clark, J.↗

Use of LANDSAT data to define soil boundaries in Carroll County, Missouri

Bands 4, 5 and 7 false color composite photographs were prepared using data from LANDSAT scenes acquired during April 1977 and April 1981 on computer compatible tapes, and these color composites were compared with band 7 black and white photographs prepared for the entire county. Delineations of soil boundaries at the soil association level were achieved using LANDSAT spectral reflectance data and slope maps for a portion of Carroll County, Missouri. Forty two spectral reflectance classes from April 1977 LANDSAT data were overlaid on digitized slope maps of nine USGS 7.5 minute series topographic quadrangle slope maps to achieve boundary delineations of the soil associations.

Davidson, S. E.↗

Evaluation of VICAR software capability for land information support system needs

A preliminary evaluation of the processing capability of the VICAR software for land information support system needs is presented. The geometric and radiometric properties of four sets of LANDSAT data taken over the Elk River, Idaho quadrangle were compared. Storage of data sets, the means of location, pixel resolution, and radiometric and geometric characteristics are described. Recommended modifications of VICAR programs are presented.

Yao, S. S.↗

Mapping of wildlife habitat in Farmington Bay, Utah

Mapping was accomplished through the interpretation of high-altitude color infrared photography. The feasibility of utilizing LANDSAT digital data to augment the analysis was explored; complex patterns of wildlife habitat and confusion of spectral classes resulted in the decision to make limited use of LANDSAT data in the analysis. The final product is a map which delineates wildlife habitat at a scale of 1:24,000. The map is registered to and printed on a screened U.S.G.S. quadrangle base map. Screened delineations of shoreline contours, mapped from a previous study, are also shown on the map. Intensive field checking of the map was accomplished for the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in August 1981; other areas on the map received only spot field checking.

Jaynes, R. A.↗

Registration and rectification needs of geology

Geologic applications of remotely sensed imaging encompass five areas of interest. The five areas include: (1) enhancement and analysis of individual images; (2) work with small area mosaics of imagery which have been map projection rectified to individual quadrangles; (3) development of large area mosaics of multiple images for several counties or states; (4) registration of multitemporal images; and (5) data integration from several sensors and map sources. Examples for each of these types of applications are summarized.

Chavez, P. S., Jr.↗

Evaluation of terrain complexity by autocorrelation

The topographic complexity of various sections of the Ozark, Appalachian, and Interior Low Plateaus, as well as of the New England, Piedmont, Blue Ridge, Ouachita, and Valley and Ridge Provinces of the Eastern United States were characterized. The variability of autocorrelation within a small area (7 1/2-ft quadrangle) to the variability at widely separated and diverse areas within the same physiographic region was compared to measure the degree of uniformity of the processes which can be expected to be encountered within a given physiographic province. The variability of autocorrelation across the eight geomorphic regions was compared and contrasted. The total study area was partitioned into subareas homogeneous in terrain complexity. The relation between the complexity measured, the geomorphic process mix implied, and the way in which geobotanical information is modified into a more or less recognizable entity is demonstrated. Sampling strategy is described.

Craig, R. G.↗

Mars - A large highland volcanic province revealed by Viking images

Many of the mountains in the rugged highland terrain of the Phaethontis and Thaumasia quadrangles are believed to be of volcanic origin. Those provisionally mapped as volcanoes have diagnostic characteristics such as lobate flow fronts around their bases, depressed central areas, or have massive, bulbous accumulations of material of no determinable origin other than volcanic. Most of the volcanoes are younger than materials forming the highlands but are older than early lava flows from Arsia Mons. Many are aligned along older fault and ridge systems that are transverse to the more recent and prominent faults transecting the region. The older faults are generally buried by plains lava flows but their traces are visible in several places in the highlands. These faults are relatively short in length.

Scott, D. H.↗

Estimation of irrigated land using Landsat digital data

Techniques developed by the University of California and NASA for the utilization of multitemporal Landsat digital data in estimating and mapping irrigated land are presented. Three dates of Landsat were registered to each other and to a USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map base for approximately 1.9 million acres of land. Other data registered include county boundaries, land use stratification, and digitized ground data. To identify irrigated land, an indicator was used which consisted of the ratio of MSS Band 7 to MSS Band 5 (the 7/5 ratio). A threshold 7/5 irrigated land value was determined for each date, as actively growing land generally has a higher 7/5 ratio than other cover classes. An estimate of irrigated land was determined by Landsat classification with ground data, at a relative standard error of + or - 7.98% at the 95% confidence interval. Mapping evaluation reveals a 94% accuracy, a 7.4% omission rate, and a 6.3% commission rate. In addition, a sample unit size evaluation recommends a 1-1 1/2 square mile sample range.

Brown, C. E.↗

Arizona geophysical data base

A series of digital data sets were compiled for input into a geophysical data base for a one degree quadrangle in Arizona. Using a Landsat digital mosaic as a base, information on topography, geology, gravity as well as Seasat radar imagery were registered. Example overlays and tabulations are performed.

Mcleod, R. G.↗

LANDSAT image differencing as an automated land cover change detection technique

Image differencing was investigated as a technique for use with LANDSAT digital data to delineate areas of land cover change in an urban environment. LANDSAT data collected in April 1973 and April 1975 for Austin, Texas, were geometrically corrected and precisely registered to United States Geological Survey 7.5-minute quadrangle maps. At each pixel location reflectance values for the corresponding bands were subtracted to produce four difference images. Areas of major reflectance differences are isolated by thresholding each of the difference images. The resulting images are combined to obtain an image data set to total change. These areas of reflectance differences were found, in general, to correspond to areas of land cover change. Information on areas of land cover change was incorporated into a procedure to mask out all nonchange areas and perform an unsupervised classification only for data in the change areas. This procedure identified three broad categories: (1) areas of high reflectance (construction or extractive), (2) changes in agricultural areas, and (3) areas of confusion between agricultural and other areas.

Stauffer, M. L.↗

Analysis of the Tanana River Basin using LANDSAT data

Digital image classification techniques were used to classify land cover/resource information in the Tanana River Basin of Alaska. Portions of four scenes of LANDSAT digital data were analyzed using computer systems at Ames Research Center in an unsupervised approach to derive cluster statistics. The spectral classes were identified using the IDIMS display and color infrared photography. Classification errors were corrected using stratification procedures. The classification scheme resulted in the following eleven categories; sedimented/shallow water, clear/deep water, coniferous forest, mixed forest, deciduous forest, shrub and grass, bog, alpine tundra, barrens, snow and ice, and cultural features. Color coded maps and acreage summaries of the major land cover categories were generated for selected USGS quadrangles (1:250,000) which lie within the drainage basin. The project was completed within six months.

Morrissey, L. A.↗

LANDSAT Digital Data Base Preparation for the Pennsylvania Defoliation Application Pilot Test

A LANDSAT digital mosaic data base for the State of Pennsylvania was prepared for use in the development of an automated system to annually estimate the extent and severity of Gypsy Moth defoliation of hardward forests. The techniques for detecting the defoliation and development of a geographic information system (GIS) to assess damage is being developed jointly by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and Pennsylvania State University using the JPL prepared mosaic base. The JPL processing involved the use of ground control points from the Master Data Processor for planimetric control, resampling of the LANDSAT data to 57 x 57 meter pixels, realignment to north, and reprojection to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection in UTM zones 17 and 18. The completed mosaic for each UTM zone was subdivided into 1 degree of latitude by 2 degrees of longitude quadrangles for easy data handling. Consideration is given to the issues of mapping standards, sensor and spacecraft platform characteristics, and their implication to geographic information systems operation. Methods for obtaining measures of accuracy for LANDSAT mosaics are reviewed.

Mcleod, R. G.↗

Detection of aspen/conifer forest mixes from multitemporal LANDSAT digital data

Aspen, conifer and mixed aspen/conifer forests were mapped for a 15-quadrangle study area in the Utah-Idaho Bear River Range using LANDSAT multispectral scanner (MSS) data. The digital MSS data were utilized to devise quantitative indices which correlate with apparently stable and seral aspen forests. The extent to which a two-date LANDSAT MSS analysis may permit the delineation of different categories of aspen/conifer forest mix was explored. Multitemporal analyses of MSS data led to the identification of early, early to mid, mid to late, and late seral stages of aspen/conifer forest mixing.

Merola, J. A.↗