The establishment of image analysis facilities for the operational utilization of LANDSAT data in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington is discussed. The hardware and software resources are described for each facility along with the range of services

Johnson, K. A.

Krebs, L.

Schrumpf, B. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

A THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST STORY
Kim A. Johnson, Dr. Barry Schrumpf, Luke (Ted) Krebs (Speakers)
In February 1978, the Pacific Northwest Regional Commission (PNRC), com-
prised of the Governors of Idaho, Oregon, Washington and a Federal Co-
chairman appointed by the President, approved a 3 year effort entitled
the "Landsat Applications Program (LAP)", aimed at establishing opera-
tional capabilities in the Pacific Northwest to analyze Landsat digital
imagery and apply the results to natural resource management programs.
The Commission, Established in 1972, under Title V of the Public Works
& Economic Development Act of 1965 for the purpose of initiating, co-
ordinating and implementing programs designed to improve the region's
overall economic well-being, had recognized the importance and potential
for utilizing Landsat to aid state and local natural resources decision-
makers.
In the fall of 1974, the PNRC established the "Land Resources Inventory
Task Force" (later changed to "Technology Transfer Task Force") with
the charge of investigating the potential application of Landsat tech-
nology to state and local problems. The Task Force, with representatives
from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and a Project Director, proposed the es-
tablishment of the Land Resources Inventory Demonstration Project (LRIDP).
The project was designed to demonstrate to state and local agencies,
methods for extracting and using information derived from satellite re-
mote sensing technology. The Task Force proposed that state and local
agencies obtain assistance from organizations that had the required tech-
nical expertise and analytical capability in the remote sensing field.
The Task Force requested and received this assistance from the National
Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and the US Geological Survey
(EROS/Geography Programs). During the LRIDP, the Task Force and its
2 federal partners assembled 45 state and local agencies as participants
in 23 individual demonstration projects. These projects were in the dis-
cipline areas of forestry, agriculture, rangeland, urban, coastal zone,
noxious weeds and surface mining. The results of the LRIDP encouraged
the Commission to embark on the Landsat Application Program in 1978 which
had as its stated objective . . "to establish in-state capability
for the use and application of Landsat data by state and local agencies
in their decision-making and resource management processes." This ob-
jective has been achieved by establishing operational analysis facilities
in each of the 3 states. Idaho and Washington have installed Landsat
digital analysis systems in Boise and Olympia to augment analysis pro-
grams already in place within those states. Oregon, meanwhile, has en-
hanced existing capabilities at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Currently, a number of agencies are conducting opDrational application
projects utilizing the new data anlysis facilities and Landsat derived
data is now being used by these agencies in their daily operations.
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Idaho
Governor John V. Evans issued Executive Order 80-4 on II April 1980,
establishing an Idaho Image Analysis Facility (IIAF). The facility is
operated by the Idaho Department of Water Resources which has been the
State's lead agency during the Landsat Application Program. The execu-
tive order was the formalization of a long term effort to establish
operational Landsat digital analysis capability inthe "Gem State".
Governor Evans' order provides a framework for insuring management, co-
ordination, maintenance and technical support of the image analysis
facility. The Idaho Image Analysis Facility, while housed and main-
tained by IDWR, is accessible to other state, federal and local agencies
and private interests. IDWR will provide the use of this equipment to
agencies in conducting Landsat digital analysis projects. The primary
components of the Idaho facility are the VICAR/IBIS image analysis soft-
ware on the State Auditor's IBM 370/168 and an interactive digital image
display device - STC Model 70 Display and System 511 software - which
operates on IDWR's PDP 11/34 computer. The facility also maintains in-
terpretation equipment for Landsat imagery and aerial photographs.
The establishment of the IIAF is the first step of operational utiliza-
tion of Landsat data within the state. Faced with very limited budgets
and increasing data requirements for improved planning and decision-
making, the resource managers and policymakers in Idaho will be demanding
a level of production capability from this technology which will far
overshadow the efforts to date.
Oregon
Oregon was the only state with an existing Landsat processing capability.
The Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory at Oregon State University
was already established with support from the University Affairs Office
of NASA. The state, therefore, elected to enhance these facilities as
its approach to developing operational use of Landsat and designated
ERSAL as the operational facility for Oregon.
ERSAL is not limited to Landsat, but provides a full range of services
including -- Sample design for resource inventory and map accuracy as-
sessment. Interpretation of large and small scale aerial photographs,
analysis of multi-date imagery and geoscience applications of sidelooking
radar imagery.
The Landsat analysis software used in PIXSYS, which started from com-
puter programs developed at Purdue University. This software has been
significantly expanded and adapted for Oregon's use over the past i0
years by ERSAL's staff.
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Washington
Washington State did not start from an established base. Like Idaho,
Washington was concerned with establishing an operational capability
to service state users in a cost effective way. An analysis of existing
state hardware showed that Washington State University had a computer
with sufficient capacity to efficiently process Landsat data covering
large areas.
The Washington State University Computing Service Center actively sought
to be designated the repository of processing capability. The availa-
bility of the AMDAHL V-6 offered a new generation computer capable of
rapidly processing large amounts of data. The state agencies felt that
the addition of interactive image processing equipment would make it
possible to effectively work with Landsat data.
The operational capability in Washington consists of VICAR/IBIS soft-
ware on the AMDAHL V-6 computer in Pullman and an Interactive Image
Processing Laboratory (IIPL) on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. The
IIPL operated by WSU/CSC contains (Idaho), the STC Model 70 Display and
System 511 earth resources processing software which operates on a PDP
11/34 computer. The AMDAHL V-6 is linked to the IIPL via dedicated
telephone lines. Discipline expertise comes from within individual
agencies or through cooperative agreements among participating agencies.
Operational capability is achieved by melding the capability of estab-
lished state expertise and equipment with a modest stimulus of new tech-
nology. Together, this combination provides an additional tool to those
concerned with natural resource planning and management in Washington
State.
Participating State/Local Agencies
I Idaho
• Department of Water Resources
• Division of Economic & Community Affairs
• Department of Fish & Game
• University of Idaho
• Bureau of Mines & Geology
2 Oregon
• Department of Land Conservation & Development
• Oregon State University
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• Department of Fish & Wildlife
• Deschutes County
• Department of Environmental Quality
• Department of Water Resources
3 Washington
• City of Tacoma
• Spokane County
• Department of Game
• University of Washington
• Washington State University
• Department of Ecology
• Planning & Community Affairs.
• Department of Revenue
• Department of Natural Resources
• Western Washington University
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The Pacific Northwest story

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