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At least 739 records · Page 41

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NASA NTRS1978

Use of remote sensing for land use policy formulation

The author has identified the following significant results. By utilizing remote sensing techniques, it was possible to accurately inventory a relatively large area for sand mining impact on protection and management of shoreland dunes within a limited time period and at a relatively low cost. Analysis of two sample areas selected from the Grand Mere area after prohibition of off-road-vehicle use indicated an increase in vegetation regrowth of 8.52% for sample area 1 and of 4.44% for sample area 2.

Boylan, M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Coal thickness gauge using RRAS techniques, part 1

A noncontacting sensor having a measurement range of 0 to 6 in or more, and with an accuracy of 0.5 in or better is needed to control the machinery used in modern coal mining so that the thickness of the coal layer remaining over the rock is maintained within selected bounds. The feasibility of using the radiofrequency resonance absorption (RRAS) techniques of electron magnetic resonance (EMR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as the basis of a coal thickness gauge is discussed. The EMR technique was found, by analysis and experiments, to be well suited for this application.

Rollwitz, W. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Applications of advanced transport aircraft in developing countries

Four representative market scenarios were studied to evaluate the relative performance of air-and surface-based transportation systems in meeting the needs of two developing contries, Brazil and Indonesia, which were selected for detailed case studies. The market scenarios were: remote mining, low-density transport, tropical forestry, and large cargo aircraft serving processing centers in resource-rich, remote areas. The long-term potential of various aircraft types, together with fleet requirements and necessary technology advances, is determined for each application.

Gobetz, F. W.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Lunar breccias, petrology, and earth planetary structure

Topics covered include: (1) petrologic studies of poikiloblastic textured rocks; (2) petrology of aluminous mare basalts in breccia 14063; (3) petrology of Apollo 15 breccia 15459; (4) high-alumina mare basalts; (5) some petrological aspects of imbrium stratigraphy; (6) petrology of lunar rocks and implication to lunar evolution; (7) the crystallization trends of spinels in Tertiary basalts from Rhum and Muck and their petrogenetic significance; (8) the geology and evolution of the Cayman Trench; (9) The petrochemistry of igneous rocks from the Cayman Trench and the Captains Bay Pluton, Unalaska Island and their relation to tectonic processes at plate margins; and (10) the oxide and silicate mineral chemistry of a Kimberlite from the Premier Mine with implications for the evolution of kimberlitic magma.

Ridley, W. I.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Energy and remote sensing

Exploration for uranium, thorium, oil, gas and geothermal activity through remote sensing techniques is considered; satellite monitoring of coal-derived CO2 in the atmosphere, and the remote assessment of strip mining and land restoration are also mentioned. Reference is made to color ratio composites based on Landsat data, which may aid in the detection of uranium deposits, and to computer-enhanced black and white airborne scanning imagery, which may locate geothermal anomalies. Other applications of remote sensing to energy resources management, including mapping of transportation networks and power plant siting, are discussed.

Summers, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Alteration mapping at Goldfield, Nevada, by cluster and discriminant analysis of Landsat digital data

The ability of Landsat multispectral digital data to differentiate among 62 combinations of rock and alteration types at the Goldfield mining district of Western Nevada was investigated by using statistical techniques of cluster and discriminant analysis. Multivariate discriminant analysis was not effective in classifying each of the 62 groups, with classification results essentially the same whether data of four channels alone or combined with six ratios of channels were used. Bivariate plots of group means revealed a cluster of three groups including mill tailings, basalt and all other rock and alteration types. Automatic hierarchical clustering based on the fourth dimensional Mahalanobis distance between group means of 30 groups having five or more samples was performed using Johnson's HICLUS program. The results of the cluster analysis revealed hierarchies of mill tailings vs. natural materials, basalt vs. non-basalt, highly reflectant rocks vs. other rocks and exclusively unaltered rocks vs. predominantly altered rocks. The hierarchies were used to determine the order in which sets of multiple discriminant analyses were to be performed and the resulting discriminant functions were used to produce a map of geology and alteration which has an overall accuracy of 70 percent for discriminating exclusively altered rocks from predominantly altered rocks.

Ballew, G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Regimes for the ocean, outer space, and weather

The allocation of resources among users of the oceans, outer space and the weather is discussed. Attention is given to the international management of maritime navigation, the control of fisheries, offshore oil and gas exploitation, mineral exploitation in the deep seabed (especially the mining of manganese nodules), and the regulation of oceanographic studies. The management of outer space is considered, with special reference to remote sensing by satellites, television broadcasting, the technical requirements of maritime satellites, and problems associated with satellite frequency and orbit allocation. Rainmaking and typhoon modification, as well as the distribution of weather modification capabilities in the world, are also mentioned. The United Nations, international agencies and tribunals, and multi- or bilateral agreements are some of the implements suggested for use in the regulation of the oceans, outer space and the weather.

Brown, S.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A critical review of the state of foreign space technology

Scientific and technical capabilities of foreign nations, i.e., USSR, Japan, West Germany, UK, France, and other ESA nations, are reviewed. Attention is given to areas in which these nations are concentrating their efforts, as well as to areas in which achievements have already been realized. Among them: space industry and processing (including nonterrestrial mining), communications satellite technology, life support systems and space colonies, earth observation, space-borne astronomy and unmanned planetary probes, materials and propulsion, and exobiology (CETI/SETI).

Grey, J.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Summary of Landsat applications and results

A review of applications and results of Landsat projects is presented. Attention is given to the MSS bands, band ratios, and color composites noting the applications of each in agriculture, forestry and range, water resources, geology, land use, and marine resources. A series of Landsat images is presented noting forest regions, burn scars, vegetated areas, and flood regions. A geological map compiled from an analysis of Landsat imagery is presented along with a strip-mine map also constructed from the data of Landsat images. Landsat data is further discussed with reference to mineral exploration, earthquake-zone investigations, and geothermal surveys.

Mercanti, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Ambient cure polyimide foams

Flame and temperature resistant polyimide foams are prepared by the reaction of an aromatic dianhydride, (pyromellitic dianhydride) with an aromatic polyisocyanate, (polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate), in the presence of an inorganic acid and furfuryl alcohol. Usable acids include dilute sulfuric acid, dilute nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, polyphosphoric acid, and phosphoric acid, with the latter being preferred. The dianhydride and the isocyanate in about equimolar proportions constitute about 50% of the reaction mixture, the rest being made up with the acid and the alcohol in a ratio of about 1:10. An exothermic reaction between the acid and the alcohol provides the heat necessary for the other components to polymerize without recourse to external heat sources. The mixture can be sprayed on any surface to form polymeric foam in locations where the application of heat is not practical or possible, for instance, between walls or on mine tunnel surfaces.

Sawko, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A synoptic description of coal basins via image processing

An existing image processing system is adapted to describe the geologic attributes of a regional coal basin. This scheme handles a map as if it were a matrix, in contrast to more conventional approaches which represent map information in terms of linked polygons. The utility of the image processing approach is demonstrated by a multiattribute analysis of the Herrin No. 6 coal seam in Illinois. Findings include the location of a resource and estimation of tonnage corresponding to constraints on seam thickness, overburden, and Btu value, which are illustrative of the need for new mining technology.

Farrell, K. W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Transfer function tests of the Joy longwall shearer

A series of operational tests was performed on the Joy longwall shearer located at the Bureau of Mines in Bructon, Pennsylvania. The purpose of these tests was to determine the transfer function and operational characteristics of the system. These characteristics will be used to generate a simulation model of the longwall shearer used in the development of the closed-loop vertical control system.

Fisher, P. H., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Application of LANDSAT data and digital image processing

The author has identified the following significant results. Based on LANDSAT 1 and 2 data, applications in the fields of coal mining, lignite exploration, and thematic mapping in geology are demonstrated. The hybrid image processing system, its software, and its utilization for educational purposes is described. A pre-operational European satellite is proposed.

Bodechtel, J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Implications of cavity, topographic and geologic influences on tilt and strain observations

Tilt and strain observations are importantly (pathologically at the 100%, typically at the few 10s% level) affected by cavities, topography, and geological inhomogenities; gravity observation are practically unaffected. The traditional earth tide observatory and abandoned mine or tunnel is a very poor place to measure body tides because of the complicated cavities, topography and geology. Instead, the ideal site for observing the body tide is in flat terrain with horizontally layered, mechanically homogeneous geology. Strain will be measured with long surface- or trench-mounted laser strain meters and tilt with long, surface- or trench mounted liquid levels, or with borehole tiltmeters. Horizontal geological discontinuities can produce large perturbations of the tilt and strain tides, and these perturbations, using the known homogeneous tidal strains and tilts, can be used in exploring local structure in favorable cases and, through possible time variations of tidal admittances, in predicting earthquakes.

Harrison, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Coal-shale interface detection

A penetrometer for coal-shale interface detection is presented. It is used with coal cutting equipment consisting of a reciprocating hammer, having an accelerometer mounted thereon to measure the impact of the hammer as it penetrates the ceiling or floor surface of a mine. Additionally, a pair of reflectometers simultaneously view the same surface, and the outputs from the accelerometer and reflectometers are detected and jointly registered to determine when an interface between coal and shale is being cut through.

Broussard, P. H.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Application of remote sensing to state and regional problems

The author has identified the following significant results. The Lowndes County data base is essentially complete with 18 primary variables and 16 proximity variables encoded into the geo-information system. The single purpose, decision tree classifier is now operational. Signatures for the thematic extraction of strip mines from LANDSAT Digital data were obtained by employing both supervised and nonsupervised procedures. Dry, blowing sand areas of beach were also identified from the LANDSAT data. The primary procedure was the analysis of analog data on the I2S signal slicer.

Miller, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Contour measurement system

A measurement system for measuring the departures from a straight line of discrete track sections of a track along a coal face in a mine employing a vehicle having a pair of spaced wheel assemblies which align with the track is presented. A reference arm pivotally connects between the wheel assemblies, and there is indicating means for measuring the angle of pivot between the arm and each of the wheel assemblies. The length of the device is less than the length of a track section, and thus when one of the wheel assemblies is on one track section and one is on an adjoining track section, the sum of the indicated angles will be indicative of the angle between track sections. Thus, from the length of a track section and angle, the departure of each track section from the line may be calculated.

Currie, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A systems examination of the opportunities of coal for California

Because of decreasing availability of petroleum fuels and natural gas, it is imperative that alternative means be developed for meeting demands. The options available for importing energy derived from coal are examined. These include: (1) electric power generated from coal; (2) coal gasification near the mine site for conversion to substitute natural gas or liquid products such as methanol or hydrocarbons; and (3) converting the coal directly to liquid hydrocarbons similar to a synthetic crude oil. Comment is made on the long lead times required between conception and completion of facilities of this type. Because of political and economic impediments, excessive delays have resulted in cancellation of projects. The need for statesmen and citizens with vision and courage to act is summarized.

Hathaway, W. M.↗