An overview is presented on the use of spaceborne remote sensors as aid to agriculture and forestry for soil mapping, crop yield predictions, acreage determinations, damage assessment, and numerous other benefits. Some results obtained by ERTS 1 are discussed in terms of the significance of information derived and the potential use of these data for better management of our natural resources.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Basic forest cover mapping using digitized remote sensor data and automated data processing techniques

Remote sensing equipment and automatic data processing techniques were employed as aids in the institution of improved forest resource management methods. On the basis of automatically calculated statistics derived from manually selected training samples, the feature selection processor of LARSYS selected, upon consideration of various groups of the four available spectral regions, a series of channel combinations whose automatic classification performances (for six cover types, including both deciduous and coniferous forest) were tested, analyzed, and further compared with automatic classification results obtained from digitized color infrared photography.

Coggeshall, M. E.↗

NASA NTRS1972

An interdisciplinary analysis of ERTS data for Colorado mountain environments using ADP techniques

There are no author-identified significant results in this report. Research efforts have been placed on: (1) location, acquisition, and preparation of baseline information necessary for the computer analysis, and (2) refinement of techniques for analysis of MSS data obtained from ERTS-1. Analysis of the first frame of data collected by the ERTS-1 multispectral scanner system over the Lake Texoma area has proven very valuable for determining the best procedures to follow in working with and analyzing ERTS data. Progress on the following projects is described: (1) cover type mapping; (2) geomorphology; and hydrologic feature surveys.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

An interdisciplinary analysis of ERTS data for Colorado mountain environments using ADP techniques. An early analysis of ERTS-1 data

There are no author-identified significant results in this report. The principal problem encountered has been the lack of good quality, small scale baseline photography for the test areas. Analysis of the ERTS-1 data for the San Juan Site will emphasize development of a preliminary spectral classification defining grass cover categories, and then selection of subframes for intensive investigation of the forestry, geologic, and hydrologic properties of the area. Primary work has been devoted to the selection and digitization of areas for topographic modeling, and compilation of ground based data maps necessary for computer analysis. Study effort has emphasized: geomorphic features; macro-vegetation; micro-vegetation; snow-hydrology; insect/disease damage; and blow-down. Analysis of a frame of the Lake Texoma area indicates a great deal of potential in the analysis and interpretation of ERTS imagery. Preliminary results of investigations of geologic, forest, range, cropland, and water resources of the area are summarized.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

A study of the utilization of ERTS-A data from the Wabash River Basin. An early analysis of ERTS-1 data

The author has identified the following significant results. A classification of a portion of frame E-1016-16050 CCT was completed using the LARSYS software. The categories: row crops (corn or soybeans), forest and woodland areas, diverted acres of pastureland or nonproductive grassland areas, water (rivers), clouds, and cloud shadows, were represented by one or more spectral classes. The results of this classification are significant in that they show potential for accurate identification and delineation of forested and agricultural areas using automatic data handling techniques.

Landgrebe, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Preliminary results on automatic identification of forest and agricultural cover types utilizing ERTS-1 data over the Wabash River Basin

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

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

A first-look machine analysis of ERTS-1 data

There are no author-identified significant results in this report. The preliminary analysis of a black and white image of channel 5 data together with tapes from the multispectral scanner is discussed. Four sub-projects based on the initial analysis are discussed. The sub-projects are the analysis by multispectral pattern recognition techniques of the full frame and two particular subframes and a study of the data quality. The procedures for conducting the study and the limitations in analyzing the data are examined. Methods for improving the analysis of the frames by first and second iteration are presented.

Landgrebe, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1972

An interdisciplinary analysis of ERTS data for Colorado mountain environments using ADP Techniques

Author identified significant preliminary results from the Ouachita portion of the Texoma frame of data indicate many potentials in the analysis and interpretation of ERTS data. It is believed that one of the more significant aspects of this analysis sequence has been the investigation of a technique to relate ERTS analysis and surface observation analysis. At present a sequence involving (1) preliminary analysis based solely upon the spectral characteristics of the data, followed by (2) a surface observation mission to obtain visual information and oblique photography to particular points of interest in the test site area, appears to provide an extremely efficient technique for obtaining particularly meaningful surface observation data. Following such a procedure permits concentration on particular points of interest in the entire ERTS frame and thereby makes the surface observation data obtained to be particularly significant and meaningful. The analysis of the Texoma frame has also been significant from the standpoint of demonstrating a fast turn around analysis capability. Additionally, the analysis has shown the potential accuracy and degree of complexity of features that can be identified and mapped using ERTS data.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Land utilization and water resource inventories over extended test sites

In addition to the work on the corn blight this year, several other analysis tests were completed which resulted in significant findings. These aspects are discussed as follows: (1) field spectral measurements of soil conditions; (2) analysis of extended test site data; this discussion involves three different sets of data analysis sequences; (3) urban land use analysis, for studying water runoff potentials; and (4) thermal data quality study, as an expansion of our water resources studies involving temperature calibration techniques.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

The importance of ground truth data in remote sensing

Surface observation data is discussed as an essential part of remote sensing research. One of the most important aspects of ground truth is the collection of measurements and observations about the type, size, condition and other physical or chemical properties of importance concerning the materials on the earth's surface that are being sensed remotely. The use of a variety of sensor systems in combination at different altitudes is emphasized.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Reflectance and internal structure of leaves from several crops during a growing season.

Measurements of spectral reflectance characteristics during a growing season of leaves from six crops are reported. These crops include soybeans, wheat, oats, sorghum, corn, and sudangrass. The characteristics measured are related to changes in leaf structure and water content.

Sinclair, T. R.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Variables in automatic classification over extended remote sensing test sites.

Four major causes of variation in response of multispectral scanner data were examined utilizing data from two large test sites. In one case, data throughout a 70-mile flightline was automatically classified with a high degree of accuracy (98%), utilizing training samples from a single small segment of the data. In the second case, spectral data for wheat and other cover types were calibrated and utilized to train the computer, resulting in data up to 90 miles away being classified with an acceptable degree of accuracy (91%), although significant changes in solar illumination and ground cover conditions existed.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1971

ADP of multispectral scanner data for land use mapping

The advantages and disadvantages of various remote sensing instrumentation and analysis techniques are reviewed. The use of multispectral scanner data and the automatic data processing techniques are considered. A computer-aided analysis system for remote sensor data is described with emphasis on the image display, statistics processor, wavelength band selection, classification processor, and results display. Advanced techniques in using spectral and temporal data are also considered.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1970

Digital computer terrain mapping from multispectral data

Digital computer processing of airborne multispectral data, discussing automatic recognition and mapping of terrain distribution, Earth Resources Technology Satellite data, channel efficiency, etc

Hoffer, R. M.↗