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At least 1,135 records · Page 63
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

In situ spectroradiometric quantification of ERTS data

The author has identified the following significant results. A multispectral photo analysis of the Willcox Playa was also made using ERTS imagery on three consecutive overpasses. The results of the analysis showed that a time sequential multispectral color presentation relates color to environmental changes as a function of time, rather than spectral changes for any single date. Since the primary mission of ERTS is to detect changes in the environment, it is believed that this mode of data reduction would be employed further in conjunction with the conventional techniques.

Yost, E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

In situ spectroradiometric quantification of ERTS data

The task of correlating in situ spectral reflectance measurements with ERTS imagery has commenced. A method of additive color analysis of a single multispectral band taken on different dates indicates that ERTS-1 bulk images have sufficient spatial and spectral fidelity to show indications of the presence of soil moisture in desert playas and changes in soil moisture with time. The chain of causality between soil moisture, in situ spectral reflectance, and ERTS multispectral scanner image density remains to be established during the subsequent phases of this study.

Yost, E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Photographic quantification of water quality in mixing zones

A method was developed to quantitatively delineate waste concentrations throughout waste effluent mixing zones on the basis of densitometric measurements extracted from aerial photography. A mixing zone is the extent of a receiving water body ultilized to dilute a waste discharge to a concentration characteristic of a totally mixed condition. Simultaneously-acquired color infrared photography and suspended solids water samples were used to quantitatively delineate the mixing zone resulting from the discharge of a paper mill effluent. Digital scanning microdensitometer data was used to estimate and delineate suspended solids concentrations on the basis of a semi-empirical model. Photographic photometry, when predicated on a limited amount of ground sampling, can measure and delineate mixing zone waste distributions in more detail then conventional surface measuring techniques. The method has direct application to: (1) the establishment of definite and rational water quality guidelines; (2) the development of sampling and surveillance programs for use by governmental and private agencies; and (3) the development of design and location criteria for industrial and municipal waste effluent outfalls.

Lillesand, T. M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Quantification of the luminescence intensity of natural materials

Review of some of the results of an evaluation of the use of an airborne Fraunhofer line discriminator (FLD) for the detection of sun-stimulated luminescence emitted by rhodamine WT dye and some other materials. Rhodamine dye is reported to have been detected by airborne FDL in sea water in concentrations of less than 2 ppb. Experiments with a fluorescence spectrometer in the laboratory indicate that luminescence of some samples of crude and refined petroleum exceeds the luminescence intensity of rhodamine dye in concentrations of 10 ppm.

Watson, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Photographic quantification of water quality in mixing zones

The waste effluent mixing zone is defined as the extent of a receiving water body utilized to dilute a waste charge to a concentration characteristic of a totally mixed condition. Color IR photography was used in conjunction with suspended solids water samples to quantitatively delineate the mixing zone resulting from the discharge of a paper mill effluent. Digital scanning microdensitometer data were used to estimate and delineate suspended solids concentrations on the basis of a semiempirical model. Model background, development, and implementation are described. Results indicate that the method is as reliable as conventional surface measuring techniques and is, in fact, more detailed. The method has direct application to the establishment of water quality guidelines, the development of both governmental and private sampling and surveillance programs, and the development of design and location criteria for industrial and municipal waste effluent outfalls.

Lillesand, T. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

In situ spectroradiometric quantification of ERTS data

The author has identified the following significant results. Analyses of ERTS-1 photographic data were made to quantitatively relate ground reflectance measurements to photometric characteristics of the images. Digital image processing of photographic data resulted in a nomograph to correct for atmospheric effects over arid terrain. Optimum processing techniques to derive maximum geologic information from desert areas were established. Additive color techniques to provide quantitative measurements of surface water between different orbits were developed which were accepted as the standard flood mapping techniques using ERTS.

Yost, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Quantification of Geologic Lineaments by Manual and Machine Processing Techniques

The effect of operator variability and subjectivity in lineament mapping and methods to minimize or eliminate these problems by use of several machine preprocessing methods was studied. Mapped lineaments of a test landmass were used and the results were compared statistically. The total number of fractures mapped by the operators and their average lengths varied considerably, although comparison of lineament directions revealed some consensus. A summary map (785 linears) produced by overlaying the maps generated by the four operators shows that only 0.4 percent were recognized by all four operators, 4.7 percent by three, 17.8 percent by two, and 77 percent by one operator. Similar results were obtained in comparing these results with another independent group. This large amount of variability suggests a need for the standardization of mapping techniques, which might be accomplished by a machine aided procedure. Two methods of machine aided mapping were tested, both simulating directional filters.

Podwysocki, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Quantification of geologic lineaments by manual and machine processing techniques

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of operator variability and subjectivity in lineament mapping and to examine methods to minimize or eliminate these problems by use of several machine preprocessing methods. LANDSAT scenes from the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma and the Colorado Plateau were analyzed as test cases. Four geologists mapped lineaments on an Anadarko Basin scene, using transparencies of MSS bands 4-7, and their results are compared statistically. The total number of fractures mapped by the operators and their average lengths varied considerably, although comparison of lineament directions revealed some consensus. A summary map (785 linears) produced by overlaying the maps generated by the four operators showed that only 0.4% were recognized by all four operators, 4.7% by three, 17.8% by two and 77% by one operator. Two methods of machine aided mapping were tested, both simulating directional filters. One consists of computer (digital) processing of CCTs using edge enhancement algorithms, the other employs a television (analog) scanning of an image transparency which superimposes the original image and one offset in the direction of the scan line.

Podwysocki, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Fundamental Analysis of the Linear Multiple Regression Technique for Quantification of Water Quality Parameters from Remote Sensing Data

Constituents with linear radiance gradients with concentration may be quantified from signals which contain nonlinear atmospheric and surface reflection effects for both homogeneous and non-homogeneous water bodies provided accurate data can be obtained and nonlinearities are constant with wavelength. Statistical parameters must be used which give an indication of bias as well as total squared error to insure that an equation with an optimum combination of bands is selected. It is concluded that the effect of error in upwelled radiance measurements is to reduce the accuracy of the least square fitting process and to increase the number of points required to obtain a satisfactory fit. The problem of obtaining a multiple regression equation that is extremely sensitive to error is discussed.

Whitlock, C. H., III↗
NASA NTRS1977

Quantification of soil mapping by digital analysis of LANDSAT data

Soil survey mapping units are designed such that the dominant soil represents the major proportion of the unit. At times, soil mapping delineations do not adequately represent conditions as stated in the mapping unit descriptions. Digital analysis of LANDSAT multispectral scanner (MSS) data provides a means of accurately describing and quantifying soil mapping unit composition. Digital analysis of LANDSAT MSS data collected on 9 June 1973 was used to prepare a spectral soil map for a 430-hectare area in Clinton County, Indiana. Fifteen spectral classes were defined, representing 12 soil and 3 vegetation classes. The 12 soil classes were grouped into 4 moisture regimes based upon their spectral responses; the 3 vegetation classes were grouped into one all-inclusive class.

Kirschner, F. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A regression technique for evaluation and quantification for water quality parameters from remote sensing data

The objective of this paper is to define optical physics and/or environmental conditions under which the linear multiple-regression should be applicable. An investigation of the signal-response equations is conducted and the concept is tested by application to actual remote sensing data from a laboratory experiment performed under controlled conditions. Investigation of the signal-response equations shows that the exact solution for a number of optical physics conditions is of the same form as a linearized multiple-regression equation, even if nonlinear contributions from surface reflections, atmospheric constituents, or other water pollutants are included. Limitations on achieving this type of solution are defined.

Whitlock, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Quantification of monocarboxylic acids in the Murchison carbonaceous meteorite

The abundances of some of the straight- and branched-chain isomers of the monocarboxylic acids found in the Murchison carbonaceous chondrite are determined. Monocarboxylic acids extracted from a crushed sample of Murchison interior were quantified by means of gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy after a spiking solution of deuterated analogues of 11 carboxylic acids had been added. Monocarboxylic acid abundances are found to range between 1.83 and 0.01 micromole/g, which is significantly higher than Murchison amino acid concentrations, and to decrease with increasing carbon number for both branched and unbranched molecules. The results are interpreted to support the abiotic extraterrestrial synthesis of monocarboxylic acids. Possible mechanisms leading to the equal synthesis of branched and each unbranched carboxylic acid with the same carbon number are considered, noting that the Fischer-Tropsch Type mechanism by itself is incapable of accounting for the observed distributions.

Lawless, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The correlation and quantification of airborne spectroradiometer data to turbidity measurements at Lake Powell, Utah

A water sampling program was accomplished at Lake Powell, Utah, during June 1975 for correlation to multispectral data obtained with a 500-channel airborne spectroradiometer. Field measurements were taken of percentage of light transmittance, surface temperature, pH and Secchi disk depth. Percentage of light transmittance was also measured in the laboratory for the water samples. Analyses of electron micrographs and suspended sediment concentration data for four water samples located at Hite Bridge, Mile 168, Mile 150 and Bullfrog Bay indicated differences in the composition and concentration of the particulate matter. Airborne spectroradiometer multispectral data were analyzed for the four sampling locations. The results showed that: (1) as the percentage of light transmittance of the water samples decreased, the reflected radiance increased; and (2) as the suspended sediment concentration (mg/l) increased, the reflected radiance increased in the 1-80 mg/l range. In conclusion, valuable qualitative information was obtained on surface turbidity for the Lake Powell water spectra. Also, the reflected radiance measured at a wavelength of 0.58 micron was directly correlated to the suspended sediment concentration.

Merry, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A regression technique for evaluation and quantification for water quality parameters from remote sensing data

The paper attempts to define optical physics and/or environmental conditions under which the linear multiple-regression should be applicable. It is reported that investigation of the signal response shows that the exact solution for a number of optical physics conditions is of the same form as a linearized multiple-regression equation, even if nonlinear contributions from surface reflections, atmospheric constituents, or other water pollutants are included. Limitations on achieving this type of solution are defined. Laboratory data are used to demonstrate that the technique is applicable to water mixtures which contain constituents with both linear and nonlinear radiance gradients. Finally, it is concluded that instrument noise, ground-truth placement, and time lapse between remote sensor overpass and water sample operations are serious barriers to successful use of the technique.

Whitlock, C. H.↗