An urban area in central Pennsylvania and the surrounding locality were investigated separately at first by photointerpretation of ERTS-1 imagery and by computer processing of MSS tapes. Next the photointerpretation and processing were coordinated. The results of the cooperative effort of photointerpreters and computer processing analysts were much improved over independent efforts. It was found that single frames of U-2 photography could be projected onto printer output maps with little recognizable distortion in areas 10 to 25 cm square. In this way targets could be identified for use as training areas for computer processed signature identification. In addition, at any stage of category mapping, the level of success in correct classification could be assessed by this method. The results of the classification of the study area are discussed.

Weeden, H. A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

The use of the temporal dimension in classifying and mapping ERTS-1 MSS data

Multispectral data from two ERTS-1 scenes of the same central Pennsylvania area were brought into registration by translation and then merged. The two scenes were viewed on different dates, but from adjacent ground tracks, as frequent cloud cover in Pennsylvania made it impossible to choose two scenes from the same track. Targets selected to be mapped included river water, railroad yards, creeks, urban areas, industrial areas, and vegetation. Equivalent training areas were chosen from each of the original scenes and from the merged data. Classification maps were produced for each, and a comparison was made. Scene brightness was found to have the most important effect on classification differences.

Borden, F. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Identification and mapping of coal refuse banks and other targets in the anthracite region

ERTS-1 MSS data covering parts of Pennsylvania's southern and eastern middle anthracite coal fields were studied to determine how well accumulations of coal refuse could be identified and mapped by computer analysis and processing. Spectral signatures of coal refuse targets were similar to water, but had higher reflectances in all channels. Relative reflectances were in the order 4 5 or = 6 7. Although no underflight photography was at hand to judge mapping success, correlation was made, with 1:24,000 scale U.S.G.S. maps dated 1947 and 1948. Coal refuse targets correlated well with existing maps.

Borden, F. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Classification of ERTS-1 MSS data by canonical analysis

The objective of canonical analysis is to obtain the maximum separability among a number of catergories. The application of canonical analysis was investigated using the merged MSS ERTS-1 data for one area viewed on two dates. The effect of threshold values on classification regions and confusion regions was investigated.

Lachowski, H. M.↗

NASA NTRS1973

ERTS and aircraft multispectral scanner digital data users manual

There are no author-identified significant results in this report.

Mcmurtry, G. J.↗