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At least 1,459 records · Page 81

A study of Minnesota forests and lakes using data from earth resources technology satellites

This project is to foster and develop new applications of remote sensing under an interdisciplinary effort. Seven reports make up the specific projects presently being conducted throughout the State of Minnesota in cooperation with several agencies and municipalities. These are included under the general headings of: (1) applications of aerial photography and ERTS-1 data to agricultural, forest, and water resources management; (2) classification and dynamics of water and wetland resources of Minnesota; (3) studies of Lake Superior Bay; and (4) feasibility of detecting major air pollutants by earth-oriented satellite-borne sensors.

Source record↗

Investigation of the detection and monitoring of forest insect infestation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California

The author has identified the following significant results. Significant progress has been made in detecting insect outbreaks from ERTS-1 data during this period. It is possible to differentiate forested areas with heavy damage from those with little or no damage. The analysis is made with color infrared positive transparencies and prints. Enlargement of the transparencies makes it possible to detect and map areas of three degrees of tree mortality into heavy, medium, and light. It was also noted that shadows cast by massive rock domes closely resemble natural lakes.

Hall, R. C.↗

ERTS data user investigation to develop a multistage forest sampling inventory system

The author has identified the following significant results. A system to provide precision annotation of predetermined forest inventory sampling units on the ERTS-1 MSS images was developed. In addition, an annotation system for high altitude U2 photographs was completed. MSS bulk image accuracy is good enough to allow the use of one square mile sampling units. IMANCO image analyzer interpretation work for small scale images demonstrated the need for much additional analyses. Continuing image interpretation work for the next reporting period is concentrated on manual image interpretation work as well as digital interpretation system development using the computer compatible tapes.

Langley, P. G.↗

Multistage, multiseasonal and multiband imagery to identify and qualify non-forest vegetation resources

A description of space and supporting aircraft photography for the interpretation and analyses of non-forest (shrubby and herbaceous) native vegetation is presented. The research includes the development of a multiple sampling technique to assign quantitative area values of specific plant community types included within an assigned space photograph map unit. Also, investigations of aerial film type, scale, and season of photography for identification and quantity measures of shrubby and herbaceous vegetation were conducted. Some work was done to develop automated interpretation techniques with film image density measurement devices.

Driscoll, R. S.↗

Potentially efficient forest and range applications of remote sensing using earth orbital space craft, circa 1980

Sixteen remote sensing applications or groups of related applications judged to be most important of any in the forestry and range disciplines were evaluated. In one application, major land classification, large amounts of useful data are anticipated to be contributed by space sensors in 1980. In four applications moderate amounts are anticipated to be so contributed. These are timber inventory, range inventory, fire weather forecasting, and monitoring snowfields. In the following seven applications small but significant amounts of data are anticipated to be contributed by space sensors: (1) detailed land classification; (2) inventory of wildlife habitat; (3) recreation resource inventory; (4) detecting stresses on the vegetation (5) monitoring air pollution caused by wildfires and prescribed burning; (6) monitoring water cycle, (7) pollution and erosion; and (8) evaluating damage to forests and ranges.

Wilson, R. C.↗

Investigation of the detection and monitoring of forest insect infestation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California

The author has identified the following significant results. Results of analysis of ERTS-1 color composites made by NASA from MSS bands 4, 5, and 7, frame #1055-18055 at a scale of 1:1,000,000 indicate that forests damaged by insects can be delineated and mapped from areas with no damage; and at this same scale other details detected include timbered and nontimbered areas, pasture and agricultural land, deserts, lakes, mountain meadows, riparian vegetation, rock domes, old burned areas, and major stream courses. Enlargements from the above to a scale of 1:80,000 have improved detectibility to the point that three degrees of timber mortality can be identified and mapped.

Hall, R. C.↗

Detection of prescribed burn on National Forest

The author has identified the following significant results. The effects of a prescribed burn in the Sam Houston National Forest have been detected from ERTS-1 coverage of November 27, 1972. The burn was first identified on aircraft underflight photography of November 7, 1972. On color infrared aircraft photography it appeared as a green patch, indicating stressed vegetation, in an area of red coloration, indicating vigorous vegetation. It was later detected on the color composite of ERTS-1 bands 4, 5, and 7, as a black area in otherwise red vegetation. The fire, covering approximately 40 hectares (100 acres), was intentionally started to clear out heavy underbrush so that trees could be marked prior to harvesting. The significance of this observation is that a light burn of this type and its subsequent effects on vegetation could be detected on ERTS-1 imagery. Continued observation of this type of phenomenon under various conditions may provide a means of identifying such an occurrence without a prior knowledge of the event.

Erb, R. B.↗

Remote sensing applications to forest vegetation classification and conifer vigor loss due to dwarf mistletoe

Criteria was established for practical remote sensing of vegetation stress and mortality caused by dwarf mistletoe infections in black spruce subboreal forest stands. The project was accomplished in two stages: (1) A fixed tower-tramway site in an infected black spruce stand was used for periodic multispectral photo coverage to establish basic film/filter/scale/season/weather parameters; (2) The photographic combinations suggested by the tower-tramway tests were used in low, medium, and high altitude aerial photography.

Douglass, R. W.↗

Operational considerations for the application of remotely sensed forest data from LANDSAT or other airborne platforms

Research in the application of remotely sensed data from LANDSAT or other airborne platforms to the efficient management of a large timber based forest industry was divided into three phases: (1) establishment of a photo/ground sample correlation, (2) investigation of techniques for multi-spectral digital analysis, and (3) development of a semi-automated multi-level sampling system. To properly verify results, three distinct test areas were selected: (1) Jacksonville Mill Region, Lower Coastal Plain, Flatwoods, (2) Pensacola Mill Region, Middle Coastal Plain, and (3) Mississippi Mill Region, Middle Coastal Plain. The following conclusions were reached: (1) the probability of establishing an information base suitable for management requirements through a photo/ground double sampling procedure, alleviating the ground sampling effort, is encouraging, (2) known classification techniques must be investigated to ascertain the level of precision possible in separating the many densities involved, and (3) the multi-level approach must be related to an information system that is executable and feasible.

Baker, G. R.↗

Utilization of EREP data in geological evaluation, regional planning, forest management, and water management in North Carolina

The author has identified the following significant results. The S190A, S190B, and S192 photographs and imagery were studied, using standard air-photo interpretation techniques supplemented by color additive viewing and density slicing. The EREP data were found to have potential usefulness for natural resource inventory work, water quality monitoring, and land use mapping for specific problems at scales up to 1:30,000. Distinctions between forest types in North Carolina are limited to conifers, mixed conifer-hardwoods, and hardwoods. Geologic interpretation was limited to detection of lineaments; lithologic differentiation and soil group mapping have proved infeasible in North Carolina except for differentiation of wetland soils in the coastal plain. Imagery from the S192 multispectral scanner has proved to be capable of useful discriminations for vegetation and crop analysis.

Welby, C. W.↗

Agriculture, forest, and range

The findings and recommendations of the panel for developing a satellite remote-sensing global information system in the next decade are reported. User requirements were identified in five categories: (1) cultivated crops, (2) land resources, (3)water resources, (4)forest management, and (5) range management. The benefits from the applications of satellite data are discussed.

Source record↗

Gypsy moth defoliation assessment: Forest defoliation in detectable from satellite imagery

The author has identified the following significant results. ERTS-1 imagery obtained over eastern Pennsylvania during July 1973, indicates that forest defoliation is detectable from satellite imagery and correlates well with aerial visual survey data. It now appears that two damage classes (heavy and moderate-light) and areas of no visible defoliation can be detected and mapped from properly prepared false composite imagery. In areas where maple is the dominant species or in areas of small woodlots interspersed with agricultural areas, detection and subsequent mapping is more difficult.

Moore, H. J.↗

Mapping forest vegetation with ERTS-1 MSS data and automatic data processing techniques

This study was undertaken with the intent of elucidating the forest mapping capabilities of ERTS-1 MSS data when analyzed with the aid of LARS' automatic data processing techniques. The site for this investigation was the Great Dismal Swamp, a 210,000 acre wilderness area located on the Middle Atlantic coastal plain. Due to inadequate ground truth information on the distribution of vegetation within the swamp, an unsupervised classification scheme was utilized. Initially pictureprints, resembling low resolution photographs, were generated in each of the four ERTS-1 channels. Data found within rectangular training fields was then clustered into 13 spectral groups and defined statistically. Using a maximum likelihood classification scheme, the unknown data points were subsequently classified into one of the designated training classes. Training field data was classified with a high degree of accuracy (greater than 95 percent), and progress is being made towards identifying the mapped spectral classes.

Messmore, J.↗

Mapping forest vegetation with ERTS-1 MSS data and automatic data processing techniques

This study was undertaken with the intent of elucidating the forest mapping capabilities of ERTS-1 MSS data when analyzed with the aid of LARS' automatic data processing techniques. The site for this investigation was the Great Dismal Swamp, a 210,000 acre wilderness area located on the Middle Atlantic coastal plain. Due to inadequate ground truth information on the distribution of vegetation within the swamp, an unsupervised classification scheme was utilized. Initially pictureprints, resembling low resolution photographs, were generated in each of the four ERTS-1 channels. Data found within rectangular training fields was then clustered into 13 spectral groups and defined statistically. Using a maximum likelihood classification scheme, the unknown data points were subsequently classified into one of the designated training classes. Training field data was classified with a high degree of accuracy (greater than 95%), and progress is being made towards identifying the mapped spectral classes.

Messmore, J.↗

Use of multispectral data in design of forest sample surveys

The use of multispectral data in design of forest sample surveys using a computer software package is described. The system allows evaluation of a number of alternative sampling systems and, with appropriate cost data, estimates the implementation cost for each.

Titus, S. J.↗

Pre-visual detection of stress in pine forests

Pre-visual, or early, detection of forest stress with particular reference to detection of attacks by pine bark beetles is discussed. Preliminary efforts to obtain early detection of attacks by pine bark beetles, using MSS data from the ERIM M-7 scanner, were not sufficiently successful to demonstrate an operational capability, but indicate that joint processing of the 0.71 to 0.73, 2.00 to 2.60, and 9.3 to 11.7 micrometer bands holds some promise. Ratio processing of transformed data from the 0.45 to 0.52, 1.55 to 2.60, and 4.5 to 5.5 or 9.3 to 11.7 micrometer regions appears even more promising.

Olson, C. E., Jr.↗