Engineering topics

Likens, W.

Publications and source records attributed to Likens, W..

5 records

NASA NTRS1983

Impact of LANDSAT MSS sensor differences on change detection analysis

Differences in overall sensor response, due to both factors within the sensor system, and external factors such as atmospheric effects, must be dealt with before change detection techniques using image differencing can be successfully implemented. The approach used to be coregister data to a base, followed by between image scatterogram generation and evaluation, and image differencing. Data from LANDSAT 2 and 3 were registered to LANDSAT 4 data. The area was limited to a small protion of the scene near the City of Santa Cruz because this was the only area cloud and haze free on all the images. Visual examination of each image, as well as the between image scatterograms, provide information on radiometric characteristics of each sensor. The image differencing, after normalizing for radiometric differences, provides a visual depiction of geometric distortions.

Likens, W.↗

NASA NTRS1982

LANDSAT land cover analysis completed for CIRSS/San Bernardino County project

The LANDSAT analysis carried out as part of Ames Research Center's San Bernardino County Project, one of four projects sponsored by NASA as part of the California Integrated Remote Sensing System (CIRSS) effort for generating and utilizing digital geographic data bases, is described. Topics explored include use of data-base modeling with spectral cluster data to improve LANDSAT data classification, and quantitative evaluation of several change techniques. Both 1976 and 1979 LANDSAT data were used in the project.

Likens, W.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Hierarchical modeling for image classification

As part of the California Integrated Remote Sensing System's (CIRSS) San Bernardino County Project, the use of data layers from a geographic information system (GIS) as an integral part of the Landsat image classification process was investigated. Through a hierarchical modeling technique, elevation, aspect, land use, vegetation, and growth management data from the project's data base were used to guide class labeling decisions in a 1976 Landsat MSS land cover classification. A similar model, incorporating 1976-1979 Landsat spectral change data in addition to other data base elements, was used in the classification of a 1979 Landsat image. The resultant Landsat products were integrated as additional layers into the data base for use in growth management, fire hazard, and hydrological modeling.

Likens, W.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Updating Landsat-derived land-cover maps using change detection and masking techniques

The California Integrated Remote Sensing System's San Bernardino County Project was devised to study the utilization of a data base at a number of jurisdictional levels. The present paper discusses the implementation of change-detection and masking techniques in the updating of Landsat-derived land-cover maps. A baseline landcover classification was first created from a 1976 image, then the adjusted 1976 image was compared with a 1979 scene by the techniques of (1) multidate image classification, (2) difference image-distribution tails thresholding, (3) difference image classification, and (4) multi-dimensional chi-square analysis of a difference image. The union of the results of methods 1, 3 and 4 was used to create a mask of possible change areas between 1976 and 1979, which served to limit analysis of the update image and reduce comparison errors in unchanged areas. The techniques of spatial smoothing of change-detection products, and of combining results of difference change-detection algorithms are also shown to improve Landsat change-detection accuracies.

Likens, W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Statewide LANDSAT inventory of California forests

Six forest cover categories were mapped, along with 10 general land cover classes. To map the state's 100 million acres, 1.6 acre mapping units were utilized. Map products were created. Standing forest acreage for the state was computed to be 26.8 million acres.

Likens, W.↗