This investigation was to develop a low cost, manual technique for enhancing ERTS-1 imagery and preparing it in suitable format for use by users with wide and varied interests related to land use and natural resources information. The goals were: to develop enhancement techniques based on concepts and practices extant in photographic sciences, to provide a means of allowing productive interpretation of the imagery by manual means, to produce a product at low cost, to provide a product that would have wide applications, and one compatible with existing information systems. Cost of preparation of the photographically enhanced, enlarged negatives and positives and the diazo materials is about 1 cent per square mile. Cost of creating and mapping a land use classification of twelve use types at a scale of 1:250,000 is only $1 per square mile. The product is understood by users, is economical, and is compatible with existing information systems

Hardy, E. E.

Phillips, E. S.

Skaley, J. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Paper L 11 
EVALUATION OF ERTS-1 IMAGERY FOR LAND USE/RESOURCE INVENTORY 
INFORMATION 
Ernest E. Hardy, Senior Research Associate; James E. Skaley, Project Coordinator and Elmer S. Phillips, 
Photography Consultant, (New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Comell University, 
Ithaca, New York) 
ABSTRACT 
The objective of this investigation was to develop a low 
cost, manual technique for enhancing ERTS-1 imagery and 
preparing it in suitable format for use by users with wide 
and varied interests related to land use and natural re- 
sources information. The goals of the project were: to 
develop enhancement techniques based on concepts and 
practices extant in photographic sciences, to provide a 
means of allowing productive interpretation of the imagery 
by manual means, to produce a product at low cost, to 
provide a product that would have wide applications, and 
one compatible with existing information systems. 
Through the use of photography techniques, standardization 
of the 7Omm film chip received from NASA is achieved. A 
subtractive color process is employed to produce step 
enlargements of the 1:3,300,000 images to scales up to 
1:66,000. Diazo transparencies are then produced in 
magenta, cyan, and yellow for each of the four MSS bands. 
Data retrieval can be achieved from any of many thousands 
of diazo color combinations. Each color diazo combination 
can provide a unique kind of information. 
transfer is readily accomplished at the scale of 1:250,000 
and larger. Enlargement to much larger scales (1:50,000 
to as large as 1:10,000) is feasible with quality overhead 
projectors. 
Cost of preparation of the photographically enhanced, 
enlarged negatives and positives and the diazo materials 
is about 1~ per square mile. 
a land use classification of twelve use types at a scale 
of 1:250,000 is only $1 per square mile. The product is 
understood by users, is economical, and is compatible with 
existing information systems. Hard copy mylar maps for 
reproduction are produced, from which information for 
computer manipulation is prepared. 
of this system are already in use. 
Direct map 
Cost of creating and mapping 
Many user applications 
491 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740022626 2020-03-17T15:18:29+00:00Z
This is a report on the progress and some of the results of research 
carried out in relation to NASA Investigation No. 358, Evaluation of ERTS-A 
Imagery for Land Use/Resource Inventory Information. The research has been 
conducted by the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 
by the Department of Natural Resources at Cornel1 University. A full-time 
professional research staff of five people assisted by consultants in photo- 
graphy and computer sciences has been responsible for the research work of 
this project. 
Among the goals of the project were the development of photographically 
enhanced imagery at a low cost, suitable for use in manual interpretation 
of ERTS-A imagery. If produced in a format compatible with existing land 
use classification and computer graphic systems, this would provide an 
opportunity to develop a very wide range of applications. 
In our approach to meeting the goals of the project, it was understood 
that photo enhancement was not satisfied by simply enlarging the imagery 
from the basic material as received from NASA. It was recognized early 
in the research program that photographic techniques, when carefully ap- 
plied to both the positive and negative 7Omm film chips, offered an oppor- 
tunity to enhance the imagery to a very high degree. 
stage of the work then lead to the development of processes that: 
Enhancement at this 
1. allow for extreme enlargement of scale while still 
maintaining suitable quality 
2. provides an opportunity to produce a great array of 
color combinations 
axas 3. provides for color isolation of any particular form 
of resource information or land use 
By obtaining large-scale images from the photographically enhanced 
ges, at low cost, suitable means of manual interpretation of the 
a have been developed. 
Experience has shown that the more sophisticated the method of 
f l  @“processing resource information, the smaller is the number of potential W r  users of that information. 
of the resource management decisions do not feel at ease with, or trust, 
* * .  igtformation prepared in a manner they themselves cannot accomplish or 
duplicate. Therefore, the use of low cost, manual interpretation tech- 
niques, based on “hard copy” imagery, is proving to be the key to our 
widening range of applications. 
Most local officials who make the majority 
In all stages df the research on this project, care has been taken 
to insure compatibility with present land use classification, referencing, 
and retrieval systems currently in use, especially the New York State 
Land Use and Natural Resource Inventory (LUNR). 
492 
Our approach was to use the LTJNR information for our basic ground 
truth. 
of LUNR data in specific areas and to record the rate of land use change 
in selected study areas. 
research technicians and this phase of the work was rapidly completed. 
We then developed the photo enhancement techniques that have been 
Additional field checking was done to verify the degree of accuracy 
Staff members had previous experience as LUNR 
the major factor in developing satisfactory techniques for the application 
of ERTS-A imagery to resource and land use classification and inventory. 
New classification systems were developed, based on the capability 
of the photographically enhanced ERTS-A imagery. 
the LUNR classification were made, to enable comparisons between the two 
systems of data acquisition. 
ardized map bases, and evaluation of accuracy levels were undertaken. 
Suitable conversions of 
Data from both sources were related to stand- 
High correlations were obtained for classification systems developed 
for 8 to 12 land use categories. 
correlation, but we consider 85% a more typical figure. 
Many of our tests indicated over 90% 
The high correlation figures encouraged us to consider other applica- 
tions for use of ERTS-A imagery. Many have been tried successfully. 
Within the photographic process, a number of steps and procedures 
should be mentioned. From the photographer's viewpoint, the imagery, as 
received from NASA, is out of balance. For accurate color reproduction, 
the density ranges should approximate one another. 
we could use photographic processes to approximate false color reproduction, 
it would be feasible through the use of subtractive color theory to assign 
c o m b i n a t i o n s  of colors a n d  b a n d s ,  n e g a t i v e  or p o s i t i v e ,  for 
clear demarcation in any desired color of any specific object. 
We realized that if 
Through experimentation, proper films, filters, and process techniques 
have been determined to provide images of more nearly balanced density. 
Through step enlargement procedures, the images may be enlarged from the 
1:3,300,000 7Omm chip up to 1:1,000,000 and then up to ratios of 1:150,000 
or larger. 
Carefully prepared, and by following prescribed calculations, positive 
transparencies from the negatives can be produced. These are then run 
through the diazo process, where any of the desired wavelengths may be 
produced in cyan, magenta, or yellow. To continue the original test to 
produce false color, band 4 was printed yellow, band 5 magenta, and band 7 
cyan. When superimposed, they produced a high quality false color image. 
As a further test of this process, the false color images were enlarged 
to scales as large as 1:66,000 and there was still suitable information for 
land use classification. 
The photographic steps have shown that by using subtractive color 
theories to produce the desired false color, an extremely wide range of 
color combinations is possible. Although work needs to be continued on 
development of a prediction model of the possible combinations of color, 
and what they relate to, we have been able to identify any desired land 
493 
use information by isolating it in a color of unique contrast with its 
surrounding areas. 
The number of possible color combinations from any one frame of imagery 
is greater than 20,000. 
number of possible combinations increases exponentially. 
When imagery from two time periods is used, the 
The dlazo process enables us to use manual manipulation of spectral 
bands and hues to elevate the contrast level of any spectral category of 
interest. Then, by color coding desired density levels to approximate a 
desired classification unit, interpretation and geographic referencing of 
like spectral zones is a satisfactory way of applying the satellite imagery 
to a resource classification system. 
We have not yet found major difficulties in geographic referencing. 
The imagery, as prepared, has high resolution capability, and boundaries 
between contrasting colors and hues are sharp. 
to use this imagery for direct transfer of data at ratios of 1:250,000 or 
1:150,000 or even larger. 
are readily available to provide excellent results at scales of 1:24,000 
and larger. 
There is ample opportunity 
Projection techniques and inexpensive equipment 
Data takeoff techniques have proven satisfactory when relatively 
straightforward guidelines are followed. They are: 
1. Prepare a base map at the desired scale with a few 
geographic references such as lakes or streams. 
Trace regions of like hue identified as a homogeneous 
spectral category onto the overlay. 
2. 
3.  Construct a spectral map from different composites to 
fill in the desired information for the mapped area. 
4. Relate areas to UTM coordinates and record on appropriate 
forms for computer storage and retrieval. 
The results of this approach can be, and have been, verified by com- 
parison with low-altitude photographs, existing geographically referenced 
land or resource surveys (LvrJR), or by field checking. Results to date 
have shown a high degree of correlation, usually close to or over 90%. 
The final hard copy map output from this process may be at practically 
any desired scale. Direct transfer may be made at ratios of 1:250,000 and 
1:125,000 with map units of about 25 hectares and 10 hectares, respectively. 
When projected imagery is used, it is quite routine to go to scales of 
1:12,000 with minimum map units of two hectares or less. 
There is a major opportunity to make satellite imagery available and 
useful to large numbers of people through this processing approach. 
have found it very productive as a source of data for such uses as: 
We 
494 
1. updating prwious inventorles 
2. analysis of seasonal change 
3. compilation of new maps, such as forestry, drainage, 
agriculture 
isolation of one specific land type or land use 
generation of new kinds of data, such as sequential 
snow cover maps 
4. 
5. 
Many other applications have been requested and are currently being 
tested. 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6 .  
7. 
8 .  
9 .  
The apparent advantages o f  this process are found in: 
low costs - as low as $1 per square mile for up to 
12 classification units 
that it does not require sophisticated or expensive 
hardware at any step of the process 
that it limits subjective interpretation so it can be 
readily taught to non-technical users 
the extremely wide range of color selections allowing 
adaptation for great numbers of applications 
high accuracy levels achieved 
letting the user select the scale of his choice for any 
application 
the material being readily understood 
the whole process able to be carried out anywhere in 
the world with equipment costs of $10,000 or less 
that it is, or can be, compatible with existing resource 
information systems 
Current applications include use by planning agencies, a number of 
state agencies, and by university faculty and students for research projects. 
The potential for the future appears very great, with the inherent capa- 
bilities of the satellite system offering information that was previously 
unavailable. With the development of a suitable color prediction model, we 
can predict continuous rewards. 
applications of ERTS-acquired imagery have been directed toward introducing 
the process to the local administrators of the state. 
assistance of the Cooperative Extension Service has been obtained, and the 
development of a service organization, capable of introducing the use of 
ERTS imagery to anyone desiring to use it, is now underway. 
Our current efforts at broadening the 
To this end, the 
495 


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