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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Digital overlay of cartographic information on Landsat MSS data for soil surveys

Cartographic soils data were digitized, spatially registered, and merged with processed Landsat image data. The Landsat Multispectral Scanner Subsystem (MSS) image data were used to generate a thematic map representing different soil surface characteristics and an enhanced image. The thematic map was generated using supervised and unsupervised classification procedures. The enhanced image was generated by performing a linear contrast stretch on data altered by a principal components transformation. Although both procedures yielded images useful for soil unit delineation, image enhancement was determined to be more suitable because it was more expedient and inexpensive. Enhanced images cost $0.06 per hectare, spectral classifications cost $0.08 per hectare. The overlay of cartographic data on Landsat data facilitates comparisons between the various processing methods used for soil unit boundary determination, delineation, and verification. This technique also provides for accurate and expedient spatial referencing for field observations and cartographic correlation.

Imhoff, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

LANDSAT-1 data, its use in a soil survey program

The following applications of LANDSAT imagery were investigated: assistance in recognizing soil survey boundaries, low intensity soil surveys, and preparation of a base map for publishing thematic soils maps. The following characteristics of LANDSAT imagery were tested as they apply to the recognition of soil boundaries in South Dakota and western Minnesota: synoptic views due to the large areas covered, near-orthography and lack of distortion, flexibility of selecting the proper season, data recording in four parts of the spectrum, and the use of computer compatible tapes. A low intensity soil survey of Pennington County, South Dakota was completed in 1974. Low intensity inexpensive soil surveys can provide the data needed to evaluate agricultural land for the remaining counties until detailed soil surveys are completed. In using LANDSAT imagery as a base map for publishing thematic soil maps, the first step was to prepare a mosaic with 20 LANDSAT scenes from several late spring passes in 1973.

Westin, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Soil Surveys

An accurate method of surveying the soil was developed by NASA and the Department of Agriculture. The method involves using ground penetrating radar to produce subsurface graphs. By examining printouts from the system's recorder, scientists can determine whether a site is appropriate for building, etc.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

Definition of spectrally separable classes for soil survey research

A procedure is outlined for defining spectral classes such that the differences between classes can be quantified. It also facilitates determination of a number of classes such that the classes are spectrally discriminable. This is accomplished by partitioning the data into many classes and then combining similar spectral classes on the basis of appropriate criteria. Multispectral data were collected over a 12-mile flightline in White County, Indiana, in connection with the 1971 Corn Blight Watch Experiment. Data were collected in May by the University of Michigan airborne scanning spectrometer at an altitude of 5000 feet. Spectral maps resulting from the analysis were compared to existing soil surveys of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. The method should help determine the extent to which spectral properties of soil surfaces can be associated with morphologic and topographic differences of interest to soil surveyors engaged in operational soil mapping.

Cipra, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Development of remote sensing techniques capable of delineating soils as an aid to soil survey

Eighty-one benchmark soils from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi were evaluated to determine the feasibility of spectrally differentiating among soil categories. Relationships among spectral properties that occur between soils and within soils were examined, using discriminant analysis. Soil spectral data were obtained from air-dried samples using an Exotech Model 20C field spectroradiometer (0.37 to 2.36 microns). Differentiating among the orders, suborders, great groups, and subgroups using reflectance spectra achieved varying percentages of accuracy. Six distinct reflectance curve forms were developed from the air-dried samples based on the shape and presence or absence of adsorption bands. Iron oxide and organic matter content were the dominant soil parameters affecting the spectral characteristics for differentiating among and between these soils.

Coleman, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Utilization of LANDSAT orbital imagery in the soil survey processes at Rio Grande do Norte state

Pedologic photointerpretative criteria adapted to LANDSAT orbital imagery were used: drainage (pattern, integration degree, density and uniformity degree); relief (pattern, dissection degree and crest lines); photographic texture, photographic tonnality, and the land use (type, glebas size and intensity of use). The performance of the imagery as an auxiliar tool in the soil survey processes, at Rio Grande do Norte State was evaluated. The drainage and relief elements were easily extracted from the imagery and also ones that provided the greatest deductive possibility about pedologic boundaries. Other analyzed criteria were considered only auxiliaries, corroborating some soil limits in the evidences convergence phase. The principal pedologic dominions of the 30,000 sq km are covered by the same LANDSAT image (WRS 359/16) were delimited with good precision: (1) fluvial plains, beaches, dunes and coastal mangroves; (2) North Coast line Plateau; (3) Acu Sandstone Zone; (4) residual plateaus of the Tertiary; and (6) plains of the embasement.

Formaggio, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Consistency Between NASS Surveyed Soil Moisture Conditions and SMAP Soil Moisture Observations

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS) collects and publishes crop growth status and soil moisture conditions in major US agricultural regions. The operationally-produced weekly reports are based on survey information. The surveys are based on visual assessments and ? in the case of soil moisture ? report soil moisture levels in one of four categories (Very Short, Short, Adequate and Surplus). In this study, we show that these reports have remarkable correspondence with the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Level-4 Soil Moisture (L4SM) product. This consistency allows the combining the two distinct types of data to produce a value-added combination, which is mapped fields rather than State-by-State tables and it is refreshed daily rather than weekly. In this study classification thresholds are derived for L4SM by mapping cumulative distribution functions of L4SM surface and root-zone SM to the categorical NASS SM conditions. The results show that, year-over-year, the SMAP cumulative SM distributions are consistent with the NASS SM conditions and, furthermore, that the temporal evolution of the SMAP-derived thresholds is consistent with the seasonal crop growth cycles from year to year. The results signify that the SMAP SM retrievals are relatable to SM estimation conducted in agriculture by land managers and farmers, which underlines the general applicability of the SMAP data.

Andreas Colliander↗
NASA NTRS1972

Application of multispectral remote sensing to soil survey research in Indiana

Computer-implemented mappings based on spectral properties of bare soil surfaces were compared with mapping units of interest to soil surveyors. Some soil types could be differentiated by their spectral properties. In other cases, soils with similar surface colors and textures could not be distinguished spectrally. The spectral maps seemed useful for delineating boundaries between soils in many cases.

Zachary, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Use of LANDSAT imagery for soil survey

The author has identified the following significant results. The MSS channels 6 and 7 were considered the best to study the relative tonality of different spectral responses of soils, while channels 5 and 7 were best for natural vegetation, drainage patterns, and land use. Frequency ratio was the recommended index for use when analyzing a drainage pattern quantitatively.

Dejesusparada, N.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The interpretation of ERTS-1 imagery for soil survey of the Merida region, Spain

The author has identified the following significant results. Major landforms and some subdivisions could be easily recognized. Water bodies, river courses, extensive areas of miocene clays, and more recent coarse textured deposits could be delineated and existing soil maps at scales up to 1:100,000 could be updated.

Hilwig, F. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Agricultural land cover mapping with the aid of digital soil survey data

A study is recounted which assessed the effect of stratifying multidate Landsat MSS data on land cover classification accuracy. The study area covered 49,184 ha (121,534 acres) in Gentry County in northwestern Missouri. A pixel-by-pixel comparison of the two land cover classifications with field-verified land cover indicated improvements in identification of all cover types when land areas were stratified by soils. The introduction of soil map information to the land cover mapping process can improve discrimination of land cover types and reduce confusion among crop types that may be caused by soil-specific management practices, soil-induced crop development differences, and background reflectance characteristics.

Stoner, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Integration of land-use data and soil survey data

Approaches are discussed for increasing the utility of remotely sensed interpretations through the use of a computer-assisted process which provides capabilities for merging several types of data of varying formats. The resulting maps and summary data are used for planning and zoning in a rapidly developing area (34,000 ha) adjacent to the Black Hills in South Dakota. Attention is given to the data source, data digitization, and aspects of data handling and analysis.

Cox, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Radar Cuts Subsoil Survey Costs

Soil features located with minimum time and labor. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system supplements manual and mechanical methods in performing subsurface soil survey. Mobile system obtains graphic profile of soil discontinuities and interfaces as function of depth. One or two test borings necessary to substantiate soil profile. GPR proves useful as reconnaissance tool.

Johnson, R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A study of the utilization of ERTS-1 data from the Wabash River Basin

The author has identified the following significant results. In soil association mapping, computerized analysis of ERTS-1 MSS data has yielded images which will prove useful in the ongoing Cooperative Soil Survey program, involving the Soil Conservation Service of USDA and other state and local agencies. In the present mode of operation, a soil survey for a county may take up to 5 years to be completed. Results indicate that a great deal of soils information can be extracted from ERTS-1 data by computer analysis. This information is expected to be very valuable in the premapping conference phase of a soil survey, resulting in more efficient field operations during the actual mapping. In the earth surface features mapping effort it was found that temporal data improved the classification accuracy of forest classification in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. In water resources study a severe scanner look angle effect was observed in the aircraft scanner data of a test lake which was not present in ERTS-1 data of the same site. This effect was greatly accentuated by surface roughness caused by strong winds. Quantitative evaluation of urban features classification in ERTS-1 data was obtained. An 87.1% test accuracy was obtained for eight categories in Marion County, Indiana.

Landgrebe, D. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Soil Gas Survey Results Supporting Groundwater Correction Action Plan (GCAP) Development for the Moab Site

A soil gas survey was performed at the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project Site during the week of November 6, 2023. Soil gas surveys are used to characterize residual subsurface sources of volatile contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds, as well as contaminants that generate a surrogate indicator gas or otherwise influence soil gas composition. The primary objective of the Moab soil gas survey was to confirm, identify, quantify, and refine secondary contaminant source area locations for uranium and ammonium/ammonia (NH 4 + /NH 3 ) in the vadose zone and shallow groundwater. The overarching goal was to provide information to assist in developing the technical basis for the Groundwater Compliance Action Plan (GCAP). Specifically, the soil gas data will support the deployment of source control technologies; e.g., where supplementary capping, removal actions, or amendments might be beneficial.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Soil Gas Survey Results Supporting Groundwater Correction Action Plan (GCAP) Development for the Moab Site

A soil gas survey was performed at the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project Site during the week of November 6, 2023. Soil gas surveys are used to characterize residual subsurface sources of volatile contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds, as well as contaminants that generate a surrogate indicator gas or otherwise influence soil gas composition. The primary objective of the Moab soil gas survey was to confirm, identify, quantify, and refine secondary contaminant source area locations for uranium and ammonium/ammonia (NH 4 + /NH 3 ) in the vadose zone and shallow groundwater. The overarching goal was to provide information to assist in developing the technical basis for the Groundwater Compliance Action Plan (GCAP). Specifically, the soil gas data will support the deployment of source control technologies; e.g., where supplementary capping, removal actions, or amendments might be beneficial.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1984

Evaluation of Thematic Mapper for detecting soil properties under grassland vegetation

Analysis of Thematic Mapper data acquired November 15, 1982, over a vegetated site located in the East Texas Timberlands and Claypan area of Texas has indicated that montmorillonitic clay textured soils can be separated from soils with different textures. The difference of TM band 4 (0.76-0.90 micron) and band 7 (2.08-2.35 microns) had an agreement of 55.8 percent with the USDA soil survey for upland clay soils. This compared to 55.9-percent agreement when all six bands (excluding the thermal) were used. The disagreement occurred at the boundary lines as defined by the USDA soil survey and the spectral data. This result is considered to be fairly good, considering the difficulty in placement of soil boundaries by the soil scientist in the field. While the exact influence on the vegetation, and thus the spectral response observed by TM, is not understood at this time, it appears that TM band 7 is responding to the type of mineralogy of the soil and that soil properties important to the plant can be detected using TM.

Thompson, D. R.↗