This research was designed to study the ability of present automatic computer analysis techniques with the use of multispectral scanner data to differentiate land use categories represented in a complex urban scene and in a selected flightline. An airborne multispectral scanner was used to collect the visible and reflective infrared data.
A small subdivision near Lafayette, Indiana was selected as the test site for the urban land use study. Multispectral scanner data were collected over the subdivision on May 1, 1970 from an altitude of 915 meters. The data were collected in twelve wavelength bands from 0.40 to 1.00 micrometers by the scanner.
The results indicated that computer analysis of multispectral data can be very accurate in classifying and estimating the natural and man-made materials that characterize land uses in an urban scene.
A 1.6 km. wide and 16 km. long flightline located in Sullivan County, Indiana, which represented most major land use categories, was selected for analysis. Multispectral scanner data were collected on three flights from an altitude of 1,500 meters. Energy in twelve wavelength bands from 0.46 to 11.70 micrometers was recorded by the scanner.
A new, more objective approach to computer training was developed for analysis of the three dates of data. Emphasis was placed on the standardization of a procedure for analysis of data. The procedure offered faster and consistently good duplication of attained results.
The results indicated an ability for automatic computer analysis-of remotely sensed multispectral scanner data to characterize and map land use categories within the test area. Additionally, results indicated an alteration of the data analysis procedure and land use classification scheme
