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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Energy recovery from solid waste. Volume 2: Technical report

A systems analysis of energy recovery from solid waste demonstrates the feasibility of several current processes for converting solid waste to an energy form. The social, legal, environmental, and political factors are considered in depth with recommendations made in regard to new legislation and policy. Biodegradation and thermal decomposition are the two areas of disposal that are considered with emphasis on thermal decomposition. A technical and economic evaluation of a number of available and developing energy-recovery processes is given. Based on present technical capabilities, use of prepared solid waste as a fuel supplemental to coal seems to be the most economic process by which to recover energy from solid waste. Markets are considered in detail with suggestions given for improving market conditions and for developing market stability. A decision procedure is given to aid a community in deciding on its options in dealing with solid waste, and a new pyrolysis process is suggested. An application of the methods of this study are applied to Houston, Texas.

Huang, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A short course in lunar geology for earth science instructors

A four-day short course in lunar geology was developed, leading to the publication of a primer in lunar geology. The course was offered to 22 sponsored participants (community college teachers) and to representatives from the Lunar Science Institute, Houston, Texas, and from the Educational Program Office of NASA-Ames, on April 25-28, 1974. A follow-up survey of the course participants was made in two steps: on the last day of the course, and one year later. In general, the participants felt that the course was well organized and that the speakers were effective. Most of the participants introduced some aspects of what they learned into their own teaching material. Finally, a well-panel display about 7 1/2 feet high and 16 feet long designed to acquaint the viewer with elementary facts of lunar geology was constructed and permanently installed at the Space Science Center of Foothill College.

Greeley, R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Human physiological problems in zero gravity - An attempt at understanding through systems analysis

When the experimental situation is that of man exposed to a gravitationless environment for varying periods of time, the possible importance and value of a related modeling effort is readily apparent. One of the main objectives of the Skylab Program, with its missions of 28, 59, and 85 day duration concerned biomedical investigations of various types, and large amounts of relevant experimental data have been gathered and are in the process of being sorted and interpreted. In order to be of eventual usefulness in forming and testing consistent physiological hypotheses concerning the effect of zero gravity on man, a modeling effort was established in 1972 through the General Electric Company, Space Division, Houston, Texas. An account is given of some of the developments completed or in progress as part of this modeling effort. A long-term cardiovascular model and a large model of the systemic circulation are discussed.

White, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The MIST /MIUS Integration and Subsystems Test/ laboratory - A testbed for the MIUS /Modular Integrated Utility System/ program

The MIUS (Modular Integrated Utility System) concept is to be an energy-conserving, economically feasible, integrated community utility system to provide five necessary services: electricity generation, space heating and air conditioning, solid waste processing, liquid waste processing, and residential water purification. The MIST (MIUS Integration and Subsystem Test) integrated system testbed constructed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston includes subsystems for power generation, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), wastewater management, solid waste management, and control and monitoring. The key design issues under study include thermal integration and distribution techniques, thermal storage, integration of subsystems controls and displays, incinerator performance, effluent characteristics, and odor control.

Beckham, W. S., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The Skylab concentrated atmospheric radiation project - An overview

An overview is presented of the Skylab Concentrated Atmospheric Radiation Project (SCARP), which was conducted to determine the accuracy and applicability of different models of radiation transfer through air masses of differing characteristics including varying amounts of wet and dry aerosols. Sites surveyed included onshore and offshore areas in the vicinity of Houston, Texas, the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, and Phoenix, Arizona, which provided a variety of warm, hot, dry, wet, clean, and dirty atmospheres. A typical exercise is described, and problems encountered during the experiment are discussed. It is noted that ten models of atmospheric scattering were utilized and that available data is being compared with the models.

Whitehead, V. S.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The ERTS-1 investigation (ER-600). Volume 3: ERTS-1 forest analysis

The Forest Analysis Team of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Earth Observations Division conducted a year's investigation of LANDSAT 1 multispectral data to determine the size of forest features that could be detected and to determine the suitability for making forest classification maps. The Sam Houston National Forest of Texas was used as the test site. Using conventional interpretation and computer aided techniques, the team was able to differentiate up to 14 classes of forest features to an accuracy ranging between 55 and 84 percent.

Erb, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The ERTS-1 investigation (ER-600). Volume 4: ERTS-1 range analysis

The Range Analysis Team conducted an investigation to determine the utility of using LANDSAT 1 data for mapping vegetation-type information on range and related grazing lands. Two study areas within the Houston Area Test Site (HATS) were mapped to the highest classification level possible using manual image interpretation and computer aided classification techniques. Rangeland was distinguished from nonrangeland (water, urban area, and cropland) and was further classified as woodland versus nonwoodland. Finer classification of coastal features was attempted with some success in differentiating the lowland zone from the drier upland zone. Computer aided temporal analysis techniques enhanced discrimination among nearly all the vegetation types found in this investigation.

Erb, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The ERTS-1 investigation (ER-600). Volume 6: ERTS-1 signature extension analysis, July 1972 - June 1973

Feature classification, spatially and temporally, was extended over the Houston test site area. The Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) multispectral scanner data from August, September, and October 1972, of five widely separated lakes were used as statistical training fields and test sites. Short term temporal (same day to 36 days) and moderately long term spatial (within and between three ERTS multispectral scanner frames) signature extensions have been verified with respect to large relatively homogeneous features. The most significant feature dependent variable affecting spatial and short term extension was water turbidity. Long term signature extension will require a model to compensate or modify the ERTS-1 multispectral scanner data for significant sun angle changes. The presence of atmospheric haze changed the absolute signature but always by approximately the same amount so that the measured water signature was always the same. The normally occurring variations in atmospheric haze conditions had no major effect on the water signatures in this study.

Erb, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Timber type separability in Southeastern United States on LANDSAT-1 MSS data

A quantitative, computer-aided study was made on the spectral separability of timber types and condition classes in the Southeastern United States, using LANDSAT-1 multispectral scanner data. It was concluded that LANDSAT-1 could be used effectively to discriminate the gross forest features of softwood, hardwood, and regeneration. The only significant detectable age difference would be between an established forest versus a young (or denuded) forest. The red or near infrared bands would be better for discrimination; phenological early and late spring data would be better than winter. And a temporal analysis would be superior to single-season analysis. Lastly, two spectral bands would be most cost effective for computer analysis. The study site was Sam Houston National Forest of East Texas, a typical forest in the Flatwoods Zone, Southern Region, U. S. Forest Service.

Kan, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Prediction of health levels by remote sensing

Measures of the environment derived from remote sensing were compared to census population/housing measures in their ability to discriminate among health status areas in two urban communities. Three hypotheses were developed to explore the relationships between environmental and health data. Univariate and multiple step-wise linear regression analyses were performed on data from two sample areas in Houston and Galveston, Texas. Environmental data gathered by remote sensing were found to equal or surpass census data in predicting rates of health outcomes. Remote sensing offers the advantages of data collection for any chosen area or time interval, flexibilities not allowed by the decennial census.

Rush, M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Regional inventories and mapping of land resources and environmental geology using remotely sensed data

Black-and-white stereoscopic aerial photographs at a scale of 1:20,000, 1:40,000, and 1:65,000 and controlled aerial photo mosaics at a scale of 1:24,000 were the basic data utilized for most mapping. Color and color infrared aerial photography (1:20,000) was employed to man the barrier islands, and color infrared photography (1:120,000) was used to map sand and mud units of the coastal plain north of Houston. LANDSAT-1 imagery in Bands 4, 5, and 7 (1:250,000) was utilized to examine land use and certain resource units statewide. Side scanning radar and LANDSAT imagery were studied experimentally toward mapping land suitability units in carbonate terranes with high relief and certain other terranes. Large-scale color and color infrared aerial stereoscopic photographs supply the most information for regional mapping. black-and-white photography is the most practical data for mapping because of scale, complete coverage, availability, and relatively low cost.

Wermund, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1975

NASA Earth Resources Survey Symposium. Volume 3: Summary reports

This document contains the proceedings and summaries of the earth resources survey symposium, sponsored by the NASA Headquarters Office of Applications and held in Houston, Texas, June 9 to 12, 1975. Topics include the use of remote sensing techniques in agriculture, in geology, for environmental monitoring, for land use planning, and for management of water resources and coastal zones. Details are provided about services available to various users. Significant applications, conclusions, and future needs are also discussed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1974

Respirable particulate monitoring with remote sensors. (Public health ecology: Air pollution)

The feasibility of monitoring atmospheric aerosols in the respirable range from air or space platforms was studied. Secondary reflectance targets were located in the industrial area and near Galveston Bay. Multichannel remote sensor data were utilized to calculate the aerosol extinction coefficient and thus determine the aerosol size distribution. Houston Texas air sampling network high volume data were utilized to generate computer isopleth maps of suspended particulates and to establish the mass loading of the atmosphere. In addition, a five channel nephelometer and a multistage particulate air sampler were used to collect data. The extinction coefficient determined from remote sensor data proved more representative of wide areal phenomena than that calculated from on site measurements. It was also demonstrated that a significant reduction in the standard deviation of the extinction coefficient could be achieved by reducing the bandwidths used in remote sensor.

Severs, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1976

HAL/S-FC compiler system specifications

This document specifies the informational interfaces within the HAL/S-FC compiler, and between the compiler and the external environment. This Compiler System Specification is for the HAL/S-FC compiler and its associated run time facilities which implement the full HAL/S language. The HAL/S-FC compiler is designed to operate stand-alone on any compatible IBM 360/370 computer and within the Software Development Laboratory (SDL) at NASA/JSC, Houston, Texas.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1976

A new computer approach to mixed feature classification for forestry application

A computer approach for mapping mixed forest features (i.e., types, classes) from computer classification maps is discussed. Mixed features such as mixed softwood/hardwood stands are treated as admixtures of softwood and hardwood areas. Large-area mixed features are identified and small-area features neglected when the nominal size of a mixed feature can be specified. The computer program merges small isolated areas into surrounding areas by the iterative manipulation of the postprocessing algorithm that eliminates small connected sets. For a forestry application, computer-classified LANDSAT multispectral scanner data of the Sam Houston National Forest were used to demonstrate the proposed approach. The technique was successful in cleaning the salt-and-pepper appearance of multiclass classification maps and in mapping admixtures of softwood areas and hardwood areas. However, the computer-mapped mixed areas matched very poorly with the ground truth because of inadequate resolution and inappropriate definition of mixed features.

Kan, E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Documentation of procedures for textural/spatial pattern recognition techniques

A C-130 aircraft was flown over the Sam Houston National Forest on March 21, 1973 at 10,000 feet altitude to collect multispectral scanner (MSS) data. Existing textural and spatial automatic processing techniques were used to classify the MSS imagery into specified timber categories. Several classification experiments were performed on this data using features selected from the spectral bands and a textural transform band. The results indicate that (1) spatial post-processing a classified image can cut the classification error to 1/2 or 1/3 of its initial value, (2) spatial post-processing the classified image using combined spectral and textural features produces a resulting image with less error than post-processing a classified image using only spectral features and (3) classification without spatial post processing using the combined spectral textural features tends to produce about the same error rate as a classification without spatial post processing using only spectral features.

Haralick, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Forest Classification Accuracy as Influenced by Multispectral Scanner Spatial Resolution

The author has identified the following significant results. A supervised classification within two separate ground areas of the Sam Houston National Forest was carried out for two sq meters spatial resolution MSS data. Data were progressively coarsened to simulate five additional cases of spatial resolution ranging up to 64 sq meters. Similar processing and analysis of all spatial resolutions enabled evaluations of the effect of spatial resolution on classification accuracy for various levels of detail and the effects on area proportion estimation for very general forest features. For very coarse resolutions, a subset of spectral channels which simulated the proposed thematic mapper channels was used to study classification accuracy.

Nalepka, R. F.↗