Effects of reflection properties of natural surfaces in aerial reconnaissance.
Earth surfaces reflecting and polarizing properties in aerial reconnaissance
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Earth surfaces reflecting and polarizing properties in aerial reconnaissance
The flight sequence in this guide is nominal and based on optimum weather conditions; it may be altered, depending upon weather and visibility. Also included at the end of the flight sequence for the island of Hawaii are sections for parts of Maui (Haleakala Volcano) and Molokai, which will be flown if Hawaii is completely obscured at flight time.
Aerial reconnaissance techniques to extract water quality parameters from aerial photos are reported. The turbidity can be correlated with total suspended solids if the constituent parts of the effluent remain the same and the volumetric flow remains relatively constant. A monochromator is used for the selection of the bandwidths containing the most information. White reflectance panels are used to locate sampling points and eliminate inherent energy changes from lens flare, radial lens fall-off, and changing subject illumination. Misleading information resulting from bottom effects is avoided by the use of Secchi disc readings and proper choice of wavelength for analyzing the photos.
Repetitive LANDSAT and NOAA-4 satellite imagery together with aerial surveys are being evaluated to develop an operational capability for mapping snowcover distributions on the Salt-Verde watershed of central Arizona. Satellite telemetry is also being used for near-real time relay of hydrologic data to aid in the management and operation of reservoirs on the Salt and Verde Rivers. Aerial reconnaissance flights were conducted to collect information on the depth and distribution of snowcover to provide ground truth for use in the analysis of the satellite imagery. A technique for rapid and economical determination of snow depths, using oblique aerial photography of snow markers, was developed.
Remote sensing data obtained from aerial reconnaissance of tornado damage to the city of Pierre, South Dakota on July 23, 1973 was evaluated to determine its value as a decision making and management tool in post-disaster restoration activities. The imaging techniques used are briefly discussed, and both aerial and closeup color photographs are provided which were used in the evaluation. The immediate advantages of the data are identified as a 'quick-look' assessment, and a list is given which outlines the additional advantages for which positive rescue and cleanup action may be initiated. Hail and flood damage evaluation, and remote sensing of crop damage due to insect of disease infestation is also briefly described.
Large roll-film electronographic camera for aerial reconnaissance and astronomical observations
Microwave radiometry for snow and ice sensing in aerial reconnaissance
Presentations at conference on color of ocean with application to survey of earth resources by satellite observation and aerial reconnaissance
Unit was designed for moving color filters in and out of position in less than 46 ms. System may be used to record previously derived colors on photorecorder or to scan different color or wavelength components of rapidly passing scene, as in aerial reconnaissance. Rapid, precise reciprocating movement may be useful in purely mechanical and chemical applications.
The author has identified the following significant results. Habitat differentiation was determined feasible using output from MSS band 6 because of apparent high correlations between surface moisture and habitat type on the test area. Progressive early snow distribution was readily determined from MSS outputs, particularly bands 4 and 5. Approximately thirty thousand caribou migrated into the test area during the reporting period, and aerial reconnaissance data on distribution were obtained for selected areas within several days of satellite overflight.
A complete documentation of Numbus 2 High Resolution infrared Radiometer data and ESSA-1 and 3 television photographs is presented for the life-time of Hurricane Inez, 1966. Ten computer produced radiation charts were analyzed in order to delineate the three dimensional cloud structure during the formative, mature and dissipating stages of this tropical cyclone. Time sections were drawn throughout the storm's life cycle to relate the warm core development and upper level outflow of the storm with their respective cloud canopies, as shown by the radiation data. Aerial reconnaissance weather reports, radar photographs and conventional weather analyses were used to complement the satellite data. A computer program was utilized to accept Nimbus 2 HRIR equivalent blackbody temperatures within historical maximum and minimum sea surface temperature limits over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
All space shuttle events from launch through solid rocket booster recovery and orbiter landing are considered in terms of constraints placed on those operations by the natural environment. Thunderstorm activity is discussed as an example of a possible hazard. The activities most likely to require advanced detection and monitoring techniques are identified as those from deorbit decision to Orbiter landing. The inflexible flight plan will require the transmission of real time wind profile information below 24 km and warnings of thunderstorms or turbulence in the Orbiter flight path. Extensive aerial reconnaissance and communication facilities and procedures to permit immediate transmission of aircraft reports to the mission control authority and to the Orbiter will also be required.
The author has identified the following significant results. Fourteen LANDSAT scenes were used to produce mosaics of the 167, 474 sq km study area. These were black and white MSS 7 images and false color composite images. Five major soil-landscape units were delineated on the mosaics, and these were subdivided into a total of 40 soil mapping units. Aerial reconnaissance was useful in defining boundaries between mapping units and in estimating the proportion of the various soils which composed each mapping unit. Ground surveying permitted first-hand observation of major soils and sampling for quantitative laboratory analysis. Soil interpretations were made, including properties, potentials, and limitations.
Essential technology programs that lead to the full scale engineering development of the Aquila Remotely Piloted Vehicle system for U.S. Army are described. The Aquila system uses a small recoverable and reusable RPV to provide target acquisition, designation, and aerial reconnaissance mission support for artillery and smart munitions. Developments that will provide growth capabilities to the Aquila RPV system, as well as future RPV mission concepts being considered by the U.S. Army are presented.
The collection of cartographic data on Zaire up to the present time was based on aerial reconnaissance. This approach is very expensive if repetitive coverage is required in such a large country. The integration with the LANDSAT program among the data collection systems improves the mapping efforts substantially.
The ability of two widely dissimilar spaceborne imaging sensors to detect surface oil accumulations in the marine environment has been evaluated using broadly different techniques. Digital Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) data consisting of two visible and two near infrared channels has been processed to enhance contrast between areas of known oil coverage and background clean surface water. These enhanced images have then been compared to surface verification data gathered by aerial reconnaissance during the October 15, 1975, Landsat overpass. A similar evaluation of oil slick imaging potential has been made for digitally enhanced Seasat-A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from July 18, 1979. Due to the premature failure of this satellite, however, no concurrent surface verification data were collected. As a substitute, oil slick configuration information has been generated for the comparison using meteorological and oceanographic data. The test site utilized in both studies was the extensive area of natural seepage located off Coal Oil Point, adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The roles and activities of NASA and the National Conference of State Legislatures in fostering remote sensing technology utilization by the states and in promoting interstate communication and cooperation are reviewed. The reduction and interpretation of LANDSAT MSS and aerial reconnaissance data for resources management and environment assessment are described as well as resource information systems, and the value of SEASAT synthetic aperture radar and LANDSAT 4 data.
Isolated knobs that are erosional remnants of central volcanoes or of folded rocks occur in several areas of the Altiplano are visible on both optical and images. The optically visible streaks occur in the immediate lee of the knobs, whereas the radar visible streaks occur in the zone downwind between the knobs. Aerial reconnaissance and field studies showed that the optically visible streaks consist of a series of small ( 100 m wide) barchan and barchanoid dunes, intradune sand sheets, and sand hummocks (large shrub coppice dunes) up to 15 m across and 5 m high. On LANDSAT images these features are poorly resolved but combine to form a bright streak. On the radar image, this area also appears brighter than the zone of the radar dark streak; evidently, the dunes and hummocks serve as radar reflectors. The radar dark streak consists of a relatively flat, smooth sand sheet which lacks organized aerolian bedforms, other than occasional ripples. Wind velocity profiles show a greater U value in the optically bright streak zone than in the radar dark streak.