Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Remote Tooling”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2022

Maldives Climate: Monitoring Shoreline Changes and Island Loss in Response to Climate Change

Global sea level rise as a result of climate change continues to pose a critical threat to coastal ecosystems and populations. The archipelagic country of the Maldives is of critical concern due to being one of the lowest lying areas in the world. The development of reclaimed land in the Maldives by sand dredging has been a frequent response to both increasing sea levels and population increase. Such disturbance can lead to increased sedimentation off the coast and negatively impact coastal environments. Remote sensing tools such as satellite imagery have proved to be an effective tool in observing coastal changes in response to climate change and development. NASA DEVELOP created a methodology to analyze both water quality and shoreline erosion in the Maldives utilizing satellite imagery. Methods relied on open-source software such as QGIS and Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Satellite Imagery from PlanetScope, Landsat 8 Operational Land Instrument (OLI), Sentinel-2 Multi Spectral Instrument (MSI), and Aqua & Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Radiospectrometer (MODIS) to analyze the changes in shorelines and assess water quality of select atolls within the Maldives. Findings show less shoreline change in developed parts of the island and more shoreline change in natural parts of the island. Additionally, water quality varies throughout the year and our data did not indicate seasonal trends. The methodology will be replicated to continue to monitor island erosion and water quality with the Maldives and will be applicable to other island and coastal systems.

remote sensing↗
NASA NTRS2017

Quantifying Black Carbon Deposition Over the Greenland Ice Sheet from Forest Fires in Canada

Black carbon (BC) concentrations observed in 22 snowpits sampled in the northwest sector of the Greenland ice sheet in April 2014 have allowed us to identify a strong and widespread BC aerosol deposition event, which was dated to have accumulated in the pits from two snow storms between 27 July and 2 August 2013. This event comprises a significant portion (57 on average across all pits) of total BC deposition over 10 months (July 2013 to April 2014). Here we link this deposition event to forest fires burning in Canada during summer 2013 using modeling and remote sensing tools. Aerosols were detected by both the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (on board CALIPSO) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (Aqua) instruments during transport between Canada and Greenland. We use high-resolution regional chemical transport modeling (WRF-Chem) combined with high-resolution fire emissions (FINNv1.5) to study aerosol emissions, transport, and deposition during this event. The model captures the timing of the BC deposition event and shows that fires in Canada were the main source of deposited BC. However, the model underpredicts BC deposition compared to measurements at all sites by a factor of 2100. Underprediction of modeled BC deposition originates from uncertainties in fire emissions and model treatment of wet removal of aerosols. Improvements in model descriptions of precipitation scavenging and emissions from wildfires are needed to correctly predict deposition, which is critical for determining the climate impacts of aerosols that originate from fires.

albedo↗
NASA NTRS1971

Optical probing of supersonic flows with statistical correlation

Remote sensing tool reliably measures statistical properties of supersonic turbulence. Tool neither affects nor is adversely affected by flow field. Device determines characteristics of supersonic flow with optical system and provides method and apparatus for separating translational and rotational motions of turbulent structures in supersonic flow.

Funk, B. H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Emission polarization study on quartz and calcite.

Calculation of the spectral emission polarization of quartz and calcite polished plates for observation angles of 20 and 70 deg by the substitution of complex index of refraction values for each mineral into Fresnel's equations. The emission polarization is shown to be quite wavelength-dependent, demonstrating that selected narrow or medium-width spectral bands exhibit a significantly higher percentage of polarization than a broad spectral band for these two minerals. Field measurements with a broadband infrared radiometer yield polarizations on the order of 2% for a coarse-grained granite rock and beach sand (both quartz-rich). This implies that a more sensitive detector with a selected medium-width filter may be capable of measuring emission polarization accurately enough to make this parameter useful as a remote sensing tool for discrimination among rocks on the basis of texture.

Vincent, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Geologic remote sensing study of the Hayden pass-Orient Mine Area, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado

Remote sensor data from a NASA Convair 990 radar flight and Mission 101 and 105 have been interpreted and evaluated. Based on interpretation of the remote sensor data, a geologic map has been prepared and compared with a second geologic map, prepared from interpretation of both remote sensor data and field data. Comparison of the two maps gives one indication of the usefulness and reliability of the remote sensor data. Color and color infrared photography provided the largest amount of valuable information. Multiband photography was of lesser value and side-looking radar imagery provided no new information that was not available on small scale photography. Thermal scanner imagery proved to be a very specialized remote sensing tool that should be applied to areas of low relief and sparse vegetation where geologic features produce known or suspected thermal contrast. Low sun angle photography may be a good alternative to side-looking radar imagery but must be flown with critical timing.

Wychgram, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Geologic evaluation and applications of ERTS-1 imagery over Georgia

Satellite imagery and other remote sensing tools and techniques have provided a powerful tool to assist geologic research; significantly increased the mapping efficiency of field geologists; shown new lineaments associated with known shear and fault zones; delineated new structural features; provided a tool to reevaluate tectonic history; helped to locate potential ground-water sources and areas of aquifer recharge; defined areas of geologic hazards; shown areas of heavy siltation in major reservoirs; and, by close interval repetition, aided in monitoring surface mine reclamation activities and the environmental protection of the intricate marshland system. The Georgia Geological Survey has been engaged in regional mapping for the new state geologic map. ERTS-1 images enlarged to compatible mapping scales have increased field geologic mapping efficiency by at least 25%. There are a number of areas where data from ERTS-1 imagery has allowed a notably higher level of precision than has been available with any amount of field work on the ground.

Pickering, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Raman backscatter measurement research on water vapor systems

Raman backscatter techniques proved to be a useful remote sensing tool, whose full potential has not been realized. The types of information available from laser probes in atmospheric studies are reviewed. Detection levels for known Raman cross sections are calculated using the laser radar equation. Laboratory experiments performed for H2O, N2, SO2, O2 and HCL indicate that accurate wavelength cross sections need to be obtained, as well as more emphasis on obtaining accurate Raman cross sections of molecular species at wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectra.

Workman, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Ultrasonic displacement system

An acoustic instrument system is described as a feasible tool for remote measurement of structural velocities. The system involves measurement of the Doppler shift of ultrasonic sound as it is reflected from an oscillating plate. Measurements were performed in air with an ultrasonic frequency source of 42.5 kilohertz. The surface under investigation was a plexiglass plate oscillating sinusoidally at 10, 13, and 15 Hz. Data are presented to show that, in such a system, the measurement of the Doppler shift is dependent upon the acoustic pathlength between the sensing device and the oscillating surface, with the distance between maximum shifts being half the wavelength of the ultrasonic source.

Faulcon, N. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Optical polarimetry of particulate surfaces

Reflection polarimetry is a remote-sensing tool sensitive to the refractive index and microtexture of solid surfaces. Mechanisms producing linear polarization within a rough, porous, or particulate surface are discussed, and laboratory techniques for precise measurements are described in some detail. Polarimetry of atmosphereless solar-system bodies provides valuable indications of albedo for objects too small and distant for direct diameter determinations, and reveals that even quite small asteroids and satellites have particulate surfaces

Zellner, B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Remote sensing in West Virginia

Low altitude black and white aerial photography is the prinicipal remote sensing tool for geologic investigations in West Virginia, although side looking radar and color infrared photography are also used. The first land use/cover map for the state was produced in color infrared and is being digitized. Linear features in Cabell and Wayne Counties, as revealed by LANDSAT, were evaluated to test the possible correlations with rock fractures and gas production from shales. A LANDSAT linear features map (1:250,000) was prepared for the entire state, also. Presently investigations are being made to understand karst and to predict areas that should not be used for development. Aerial photography and field mapping is being conducted to detect the location and causes of landslides.

Lessing, P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Geometric error analysis for shuttle imaging spectrometer experiment

The demand of more powerful tools for remote sensing and management of earth resources steadily increased over the last decade. With the recent advancement of area array detectors, high resolution multichannel imaging spectrometers can be realistically constructed. The error analysis study for the Shuttle Imaging Spectrometer Experiment system is documented for the purpose of providing information for design, tradeoff, and performance prediction. Error sources including the Shuttle attitude determination and control system, instrument pointing and misalignment, disturbances, ephemeris, Earth rotation, etc., were investigated. Geometric error mapping functions were developed, characterized, and illustrated extensively with tables and charts. Selected ground patterns and the corresponding image distortions were generated for direct visual inspection of how the various error sources affect the appearance of the ground object images.

Wang, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Deep sea mega-geomorphology: Progress and problems

Historically, marine geologists have always worked with mega-scale morphology. This is a consequence both of the scale of the ocean basins and of the low resolution of the observational remote sensing tools available until very recently. In fact, studies of deep sea morphology have suffered from a serious gap in observational scale. Traditional wide-beam echo sounding gave images on a scale of miles, while deep sea photography has been limited to scales of a few tens of meters. Recent development of modern narrow-beam echo sounding coupled with computer-controlled swath mapping systems, and development of high-resolution deep-towed side-scan sonar, are rapidly filling in the scale gap. These technologies also can resolve morphologic detail on a scale of a few meters or less. As has also been true in planetary imaging projects, the ability to observe phenomena over a range of scales has proved very effective in both defining processes and in placing them in proper context.

Bryan, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The SIR-C experiment - Measuring new variables from space with SAR

SIR-C is a continuation of the Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR) series of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging systems flown by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory aboard the Space Shuttle. SIR-A, flown in 1981, showed that SAR can be a useful remote sensing tool in the fields of geology, hydrology, and oceanography. SIR-B added the capability of moving the radar's antenna in 1984, showing that multiple incidence angle images add materially to the usefulness of SAR. SIR-C will add the dimensions of wavelength and polarization, providing the most powerful system ever flown for SAR scientific studies of the earth.

Wall, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Goldstone solar system radar

Information is provided about physical nature planetary surfaces and their topography as well as dynamical properties such as orbits and spin states using ground based radar as a remote sensing tool. Accessible targets are the terrestrial planets: the Earth's Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars, the outer planets rings and major moons, and many transient objects such as asteroids and comets. Data acquisition utilizes the unique facilities of the Goldstone Deep Space Network, occasionally the Arecibo radar, and proposed use of the VLA (very large array).

Jurgens, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Aerospace video imaging systems for rangeland management

This paper presents an overview on the application of airborne video imagery (VI) for assessment of rangeland resources. Multispectral black-and-white video with visible/NIR sensitivity; color-IR, normal color, and black-and-white MIR; and thermal IR video have been used to detect or distinguish among many rangeland and other natural resource variables such as heavy grazing, drought-stressed grass, phytomass levels, burned areas, soil salinity, plant communities and species, and gopher and ant mounds. The digitization and computer processing of VI have also been demonstrated. VI does not have the detailed resolution of film, but these results have shown that it has considerable potential as an applied remote sensing tool for rangeland management. In the future, spaceborne VI may provide additional data for monitoring and management of rangelands.

Everitt, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evidence for magnetospheric effects on the sodium atmosphere of Mercury

Monochromatic images of Mercury at the sodium D2 emission line showed excess sodium emission in localized regions at high northern and southern latitudes and day-to-day global variations in the distribution of sodium emission. These phenomena support the suggestion that magnetospheric effects could be the cause. Sputtering of surface minerals could produce sodium vapor in polar regions during magnetic substorms, when magnetospheric ions directly impact the surface. Another important process may be the transport of sodium ions along magnetic field lines toward polar regions, where they impact directly on the surface of Mercury and are neutralized to regenerate neutral sodium atoms. Day-to-day variations in planetary sodium distributions could result from changing solar activity, which can change the magnetosphere in time scales of a few hours. Observations of the sodium exosphere may provide a tool for remote monitoring of the magnetosphere of Mercury.

Potter, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Development of a Raman lidar simulation tool

Raman Lidar is a useful and powerful tool for remote probing of the atmosphere. With Raman Lidars, one can accurately determine the identity and concentration of a particular molecular specie present in the atmosphere. We present the results from a program to develop a simulation capability of Raman Lidar systems for the remote detection of atmospheric gases and/or air polluting hydrocarbons. Our model, which integrates remote Raman spectroscopy with SPARTA's BACKSCAT atmospheric lidar simulation package, permits accurate determination of the performance of a Raman Lidar system. The accuracy with which our model operates is due to the accurate calculation, at any given excitation wavelength, of the differential scattering cross section for the molecular specie under investigation. We show excellent correlation of our calculated cross section data with experimental data from the published literature. In addition, the use of our BACKSCAT package, which provides a user friendly environment to define the operating conditions, provides an accurate calculation of the atmospheric extinction at both the excitation and Raman shifted wavelengths. Our code can be used to accurately predict the performance of a Raman Lidar system, the concentration and identification of a specie in the atmosphere, or the feasibility of making Raman measurements.

Grasso, R. J.↗