There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Mcmurtry, G. J.

Petersen, G. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

E 7.5- - 10. 1.8.
INTERDISCIPINARY APPLICATIONS AND 
INTERPRETATIONS OF
ERTS DATA WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER 
BASIN
Resource Inventory, Land Use, 
Pollution v sde Iavlable under NASA sponsoStPi
esource Inventory the inte est of early and ,io dis,
semination of Earth Resources Survey
Program informaion nd ., i~ l
Office for Remote Sensing of 
Earth Resources (ORSER) 1i any use 
made th."
Space Science and Engineering 
Laboratory (SSEL)
219 Electrical Engineering West
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania 
16802
Type I Report for Period 
1 August 1973 - 30 September 
1973
Contract NAS 5-23133
ERTS Investigation 082
Principal Investigators: G. J. McMurtry, G. W. Petersen
1082AA (UN159)
'repared for
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
3reenbelt, Maryland 20771
(E75-10189 ) INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS 
N75-2079
AND INTERPRETATIONS OF tERTS DATA- JITHIN, THE -
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN Progress Report, 
1i
Aug.- -30 -Sep., 1973 '(Pennsylvania State 
Uncas
Univ.),. 8 .p HC $3.25 CSCL 0 8H _G3/3 00489
REC l '
APR 04 1 .:i
SIS 902.b
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750012720 2020-03-22T23:24:23+00:00Z
I. PROGRESS ON TASKS
Inventory of Natural Resources and Land Use
In the vegetation study of the Stone Valley area, field notes
obtained from the reconnaissance survey made in July have been com-
pared with vegetative signatures and computer-generated maps, resulting
in further-refinement and delineation of the vegetative types. The LMAP
program was used on the CalComp plotter to convert the best computer out-
put into a line map, facilitating interpretation. The LIAP program also
permits a choice of scale, so the map was reduced in scale to coincide
with the USGS topographic maps (1:24,000). As a result, it was possible
to superimpose on this map all road and drainage systems in the study
area. A set of random numbers was then generated to locate 40 points
for investigation in the field study. These points were located by
reference to nearby streams, roads, or powerlines, and field checked.
Highly precise location of the points was not required due to the
resolution limitations of ERTS imagery. The vegetation at each point
was recorded, as well as the vegetation encountered along access routes
to each point. Of all 40 points located, only one did not check with
the line map. Further progress in classification of this area from
ERTS data may be possible when C130 data becomes available for use as
ground truth.
Land Use classification of agricultural areas is being studied from.
several vantage points. In Pennsylvania, work is being conducted in
Jefferson County and in Lancaster County;
In Jefferson County, ERTS ecene 1244-15305 is being mapped, with
mapping categories to date incluling forest vegetation, bare soil, crops,
strip mine spoils, and wet land. An attempt has been made to map "wet
land" as defined by the SCS; how;ver, it has not been possible to define
a unique signature for this catc-ory.
In Lancaster County, ERTS scene 1.080-15185, the following categories
have been mapped: several forest categories, several water categories,.a
limestone quarry, bare soil, pasture land, and field with crop residues.
In mapping the above two areas, it has become evident that there are
problems in classifying fields. Agricultural fields in much of Pennsyl-
vania tend to be small, irregular in shape, and contoured with narrow
strips of two or.more crops. It was felt that these characteristics were
a major source of difficulty in signature development and classification
of agricultural land in Lancaster and Jefferson Counties. In order to
be sure that it was indeed these geographical and topographical features
which were the source of difficulty and not some problem in the software
algorithms, it was decided to map two areas which had large, flat, and
regular agricultural fields. The areas chosen were in Texas and Montana,
-2-.
and the preliminary results appear to confirm that the ORSER programs
are operating satisfactorily, and the land characteristics in Pennsyl-
vania are the principal cause of difficulty.
A study of land use mapping of 900 square miles in Hill County,
Montana, was completed. Supervised and unsupervised classifiers were
used on CCT data from ERTS scene 1052-17452, from September 13, 1972.
The following classifications were made: summer fallow (5 signatures),
stubble (4 signatures), water (5 signatures), vegetation (1 signature),
range and prairie (2 signatures), eroded areas (1 signature), and creeks
(1 signature). Copies of the report resulting from this study were sent
to the ASCS in Hill County, Montana; to the Statistical Reporting Service
of the Department of Agriculture, in Washington, D. C.; and to the
Agronomy Department of Montana State University.
An initial analysis of an area in Hidalgo County, Texas (ERTS scene
1146-16323) has been made.. Signatures for agronomic crops, bare soils,
and water bodies have been established. Work is progressing on signa-
tures for range land and cultivated pasture.
A master's thesis, "Comparison of Laboratory and Multispectral
Scanner Derived Spectral Signatures for Mapping Soils," was completed
by George May. The MSS data used were flown for Harold Rib of the
Federal Highway Administration, by aircraft operated by the Willow Run
Lab at the University of Michigan. ORSER programs. were used to classify
the data and produce a thematic map for three soil types.. Soil samples
from the area were then collected and a computer program was developed
to determine the scan line and element number of these sampling locations.
The samples were analyzed on a spectrophotometer and the resultant soil
spectral signatures were corrected for atmospheric attenuation and solar
adiation at the time the MSS data were collected. The corrected labora-
tory data were then used to map the three soils, using the same method
r)plied to the MSS data. Comparison of the two maps resulted in the
t illowing conclusions:
1. It was possible to accurately assign a scan line and element
number from the MSS data to each sampling location.
2. Using 12 channels in each case and critical angles for the
laboratory-derived signatures of three times those used for
the MSS signatures, it was possible to produce 90% agreement
between each of the two signature sets for maps of three soil
sites.
3. For both the laboratory-derived and the MSS signatures, it was
possible to accurately map a siltstone-derived soil and differ-
entiate it from the other two soils. However, the remaining
two soils could not be adequately separated, as they were both
shaley in character (one was formed from shale and the other
from a shaley limestone).
-3-
4. In the cases of both the laboratory and the MSS data, signa-
tures derived from only seven channels (3,4,5,7,9,10, and 11)
yielded approximately the same results as those derived from
12 channels.
5. Subdivisions in channels 12 (1.0 to 1.4 pm) and 13 (2.0-216 pm)
would enhance the spectral differences of soils and facilitate
classification separations.
Geology and Hydrology
An ERTS mosaic of Pennsylvania has been assembled for use in linea-
ment analysis. Some of these lineaments will be compared to the known
distribution of ore deposits. The scenes used for this mosaic, all
from channel 7, were as follows:
Date ID Date ID
20 Aug 72 1028-15293 7 Sep 72 1046-15301
21 Aug 72 1029-15352 10 Oct 72 1079-15124
21 Aug 72 1029-15354 10 Oct 72 1079-15131
6 Sep 72 1045-15240 11 Oct 72 1080-15183
6.Sep 72 1045-15243 11 Oct 72 1080-15185
7 Sep 72 1046-15295
The main thrust of work during this period has been in the selection
of a geographically-well-mapped glaciated area in northwestern Pennsyl-
;ania for which there is adequate cloud-free ERTS coverage, aircraft
<ata (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture photographs at a scale of 1:20,000),
aad suitable topographic maps (7 1/2 min) with a forest overlay.
Ically, detailed glacial geologic maps are available, as well as
rzgional maps of all of northwestern Pennsylvania. It is.now known to
iqat extent glacial deposits of the same or of different ages can be
distinguished using ERTS data and the digital processing techniques
developed by ORSER. It is hoped that contrasting materials, such as
sand and gravel versus till and clay, can be located, for the former
type of deposits have economic potential as an aggregate source and as
underground water aquifers.
Environmental Quality
A field survey of the Palmerton area was conducted on August 18th
to determine the current severity of vegetative damage. It was observed
that significant fumigations had occurred since the July 8th visitation
and that damage was evident to broadleaved decidious as well as conifer-
ous species. Sassafras trees displayed an interveinal necrosis and
white and red pines exhibited a chlorotic mottle on the current years
foliage.
-4-
Requested aircraft flights of the Palmerton area were flown on
September 11 (NASA Wallops C54, Mission 227-4, Flight lines 2 and 3).
Another field survey was therefore made of the area on September 15,
16, and 17 to classify visible damage apparent to the white pine
stand under investigation at the time of the aircraft flight. A
classification system based upon needle length, retention and necrosis,
and the overall color of the trees was utilized to document the condi-
tion of the foliage. The results of this classification are to be used
to determine if similar severity classes can be determined from the
color infrared photos taken on September llth.
Data Processing and Pattern Recognition
The arrival of the Bausch and Lomb Zoom Transferscope has provided
the opportunity to cross-correlate photographs and base maps with maps
produced by photo-interpretive procedures and with computer generated
thematic maps. The approximate scale of the computer-generated map
is 1:24,000. This scale is not uniform, however, because of distortion
due to the printer line and element proportions. This distortion is
completely overcome by the stretch capability of. the transferscope.
Because the transferscope has a magnification capability of 1-7X or 2-14X,
depending on the lens used, it becomes possible to directly compare ERTS
images, at a scale of 1:1,000,000 with computer thematic maps Xerox-
reduced to 1:96,000. Studies of this combination, however, are quite
limited, due to the limited area coverage of computer output (even when
mosaicked) with respect to the ERTS image. We are proceeding, therefore,
to study comparisons of ERTS images enlarged to a scale of 1:500,000
and computer output reduced to 1:48,000. This combination seems to be
an improvement, but the results are not yet conclusive. Future plans
include a study of an area usini winter and spring images in the inter-
pretation of water features and soil signatures. Aircraft data, both
photographic and in the form of ASS tapes, of a chosen area will also
be explored.
A procedure for photographic reduction of 7 by 7 foot computer-
generated maps from ERTS data was developed. Both 35 mm slides and
photographic prints can be made which preserve the identity of printed
characters on the map.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Research
Dr. Petersen visited the University of Wisconsin, where he dis-
cussed using remote sensing for a land use and water quality study of
the Great Lakes region. These discussions were held with Dr. Gordon
Chesters, Director of the Water Resources Center, and Dr. James Clapp,
-5-
Director of the Environmental Monitoring and Data Acquisition Group,
both of the University of Wisconsin. It was suggested that Dr.
Petersen consider investigating computer processing of ERTS data to
delineate land cover types with a view toward relating these cover
types to water quality. Dr. Petersen will be spending his sabbatical
leave during the next academic year with the Water Resources Center
at the University of Wisconsin, concerning himself with methods of
applying remote sensing technology to the needs of private, state,
and Federal organizations.
Reports
ORSER has completed ORSER-SSEL Technical Report 11-73, ERTS and
Aircraft Multispectral Scanner Digital Data Users Manual," describing
in detail all ORSER programs to date with specific card descriptions.
and instructions for use. Other reports in process describing ORSER
data handling and processing procedures are as follows:
STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF ERTS AND UNDERFLIGHT IMAGERY
DEVJLOPMENT OF THE HYBRID APPROACH TO DATA PROCESSING-
CATALOGUES FOR -REMOTE SENSING DIGITAL DATA TAPES
PROCESSING OF REMOTE SENSING DATA
CORRECTION OF BANDING IN MSS DIGITAL DATA
ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERSION AND PROCESSING OF MSS DATA
USING A HYBRID COMPUTER
.Several research reports are also in the last stages of completion.
:These are:
LAND USE MAPPING
COMPARISON OF PREPROCESSING AND CLASSIFICATION TECHNIQUES
AS APPLIED TO MULTISPECTRAL SCANNER DATA
SURVEY AND INVENTORY OF FOREST RESOURCES
CANONICAL ANALYSIS APPLIED TO THE INTERPRETATION OF
NIULTISPECTRAL SCANNER DATA
MAPPING OF ANTHRACITE REFUSE
INVESTIGATION OF VEGETATIVE COVER CONDITIONS
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
AGRICULTURAL LAND USE MAPPING
-6-.
The essence of most of these reports was covered in various chapters
of our Type II Report for June 1, 1972 through May 30, 1973. However,
it has appeared desirable to issue these as separate reports for dis-
semination to interested parties, and in several cases these have been
updated from work done since May 30.
Conferences
Dr. Parizek presented a talk, "Prevention of Mine Drainage," to
the 45th Annual Conference of the Water Pollution Control Associates
of Pennsylvania. The conference was attended by approximately 150
people, such as engineers, public regulatory officials, representatives
from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources and the
Environmental Protection Agency, and coal mine operators. Lineament
mapping on ERTS and SKYLAB images, and fracture trace mapping on air-
craft photography was discussed as a means of locating connector de-
watering wells to reduce groundwater leakage to underlying mines.
These mappable features on remote sensing images can also be a key to
location of zones of potential mine roof instability and blow-out
zones, which can result when mines are flooded above stream grade in
an attempt to abate acid mine drainage.
The significance of gravity wells and their location at lineament
intersections was stressed because these.sites should both increase the
efficiency of dewatering wells and at the same time increase the effi-
ciency of recharge wells used in the gravity or connector well abatement
procedure.
Dr. Parizek also attended :he Pennrose Conference on Carbonate
Rocks, held in Vail, Colorado, b3 the Geological Society of America.
At this conference he presented a talk, "Hydrology of Carbonate Rocks
in Humid Regions," in which he di icussed new research on lineaments
and fracture traces involving th: use of ERTS and Skylab data. This
conference was attended by 80 invited people.
Visits to ORSER
Capt. Paul Weitz, USN, graduate of Penn State and Skylab Astronaut,
visited ORSER on September 27. He gave a seminar and slide show on
Skylab, and answered a host of questions from students and staff.
Dr. Jack Crelling, Research Geologist with Bethlehem Steel Corpor-
ation (and a former graduate of Penn State) visited ORSER to discuss
methods for obtaining ERTS images suitable for coal exploration work,
and possible use of the Bausch and Lomb transferscope in the interpreta-
tion of these images.
-7-
Dr. Pennypacker hosted representatives il-om four different countries
during September, describing the ORSER program to them and discussing the
use of remote sensing techniques in plant pathology studies:
1. From the Netherlands: Dr. J. C. Zadocks, Dean of the Agricultural
University in Wageningen.
2. From Israel: Dr. Yigal Cohen, Department of Life Sciences, Bar-
Ilan University, Ramat Can; and Dr. J. Rotem, Volcani Center, Agricultural
Research Organization, Bet Dagen.
3. From India: Dr. S. Nagarajan, Department of Botany, University
of Delhi. Dr. Nagarajan's interest is in predicting the occurrence of
wheat rust in India from remote sensing data.
4. From Germany: Dr. Manfred Mogk, Tropeninstitut, abt. Phyto-
pathologie und Entomologie, Justus Liebig -.Universitat.
Other Activities
Dr. Gold was on a lecture tour of southern Africa, where he delivered
six lectures on "Sputnik to Skylab," which included a review of the ERTS
program. Ile also visited the U.N. geological team working 
on remote
sensing techniques for lineament and fracture trace analyses of Lesotho.
Dr. McMurtry gave a talk to the Harris Township Lions Club of Centre
County, Pennsylvania, on "Pictures from Above."
Data Requests, Flights, and Recei;ts
The following data flights \x re made during this reporting period:
6 August Mission 247 C130
13 August Mission 227-1 C54
11 September Mission 227-4 C54
10 August Mission 238 RB57
29-31 August Mission 238 RB57
The following data were received during this reporting period (other
than routine ERTS images and tapes):
Mission 194 (C54) photography
Mission 227-1 (C54) photography


Interdisciplinary applications and interpretations of ERTS data within the Susquehanna River Basin

"Made available under NA99 F7m,ro,.E
in the interest of early anl 
semination of Earth Resources Survey
Program information and without liability
for any use made thereof."
ORSER-SSEL Technical Report 8-73
"ORSER Progress Report for February-March 1973"
. t'h 1
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF (DW PU '
ERTS DATA WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN
Resource Inventory, Land Use, Pollution 0 tv (
Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER)
Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL)
Room 219 Electrical Engineering West
The Pennsylvania State University 
.o
University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 h t 1
Co D
Type I Report for period 1 February, 1973 - 31 March, 1973
-Contract NAS 5-23133
ERTS Investigation 082
Principal Investigators: G. J. McMurtry, G. W. Petersen, UN159
Prepared for o z
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER -A 0 -4
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 CU1mPT0
Sdt
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19730024585 2020-03-23T00:50:23+00:00Z
I. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Preparation and presentation of papers at the ERTS Symposium
held at GSFC on March 5-9, 1973, constituted much of the work
during this reporting period. Papers presented and the authors
were:
1. "Analysis and Application of ERTS-1 Data for Regional Geo-
logical Mapping", D. P. Gold, R. R. Parizek, S.A. Alexander.
2. "The Use of ERTS-1 MSS Data for Mapping Strip Mine and Acid
Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania", S. S. Alexander, J. Dein,
D. P. Gold.
3. "Investigations of an Urban Area and its Locale Using ERTS-1
Data Supported by U-2 Photography", H. A. Weeden, F. Y. Borden,
D. N. Applegate, N. Bolling.
4. "Mapping of Agriculutral Land Use from ERTS-1 Digital Data",
A.D. Wilson, G. A. May, G. W. Petersen.
5. "Identification and Mapping of Coal Refuse Banks and Other
Targets in the Anthracite Region", F. Y. Borden, D. N.
Thompson, H. M. Lachowski.
6. "Classification of ERTS-1 MSS Data by Canonical Analysis",
H. M. Lachowski, F. Y. Borden.
The ORSER system for processing digital MSS data is now
being used on a daily basis by a non-university user for the
first time. The MITRE Corporation has subcontracted for services
by ORSER personnel and systems with applications to ERTS data
analysis. Though the analytical results of this analysis are
primarily reported by MITRE, an important result from the stand-
point of ORSER's contract with NASA is the demonstration of
the ease and efficiency with which MITRE personnel have used
the ORSER data processing system via lone distance telephone lines.
The digital tapes are- mailed to ORSER where they are subsetted
and stored. MITRE personnel then simply request the mounting
of the desired tape and operate on it using ORSER programs, or
any modification thereof which the user may wish to make.
Analytical results are then produced at the MITRE terminal and/
or stored in the user's file at Penn State. No operating diff-
iculties have been encountered.
A new mosaic of the state of Pennsylvania was constructed
from ERTS imagery. The ERTS scenes used to make this mosaic
are:
1
10 OCT 72 1079-15124 7 SEP 72 1046-15292
10 OCT 72 1079-15131 7 SEP 72 1046-15295
10 OCT 72 1079-15133 7 SEP 72 1046-15301
11 OCT 72 1080-15183 7 SEP 72 1046-15304
11 OCT 72 1080-15185 1 NOV 72 1101-15354
6 SEP 72 1045-15240 21 AUG 72 1029-15352
6 SEP 72 1045-15243 21 AUG 72 1029-15354
1 AUG 72 1009-15244
A summary of progress to date and current work is given below.
This summary is organized according to the task descriptions in the
proposal submitted for this project.
1. Inventory of Natural Resources and Land Use
A. Identification and characterization of soil parameters
An area in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, Pennsylvania has
been investigated with computer classification results clearly
distinguishing sandstone ridges, limestone valleys, drainage
patterns and some cultural features. Due to the nature of the
terrain in that geographical area and consequent small and
irregular agriculutral fields, determination of soil patterns
from ERTS data is largely dependent upon correlation with the
classification results mentioned above. Aircraft data has been
highly useful in this task. Areas with larger agricultural
fields are now being investigated for soil classification
purposes. In addition, ERTS data collected in the spring of
1973 is expected to be more useful for soil classification.
B. Location, inventory, and monitoring of strip mining operations
and pollution spoils
(1) Digital processing of ERTS-1 MSS data for areas near
the West Branch of the Susquehanna River has resulted in
identification of stripped areas including ones that are not
discernible from visual analysis of ERTS imagery. Underflight
data and ground truth are used as a basis for making sub-
classifications of stripped areas, particularly with regard to
manifestations of acid mine drainage. Results to date indicate
that ERTS can be used to monitor the extent of stripping and
also the effectiveness of reclamation.
(2) ERTS-1 MSS data covering parts of Pennsylvania's Southern
and Eastern Middle Anthracite Coal Fields has been used to identify
and map accumulations of coal refuse using computer processing and
analysis. Mapping the location and areal extent of coal waste
material has been shown to be feasible, and as more ERTS data
is received the temporal changes will be monitored by producing
updated maps.
C. Survey and inventory of forest resources
Digital MSS data has been used for the detection, classification,
and mapping of four categories of vegetation; (1) open area covered
with herbaceous vegetation; (2) open areas covered with brushy
vegetation; (3) areas forested with deciduous trees; and (4) coniferous
vegetation. An area including state game and forest lands near the
Kinzua Dam in northwestern Pennsylvania near the city of Warren
has been chosen for investigation. Preliminary results are promising
and use of U-2 imagery over the test site is expected to result in
more detailed classification and mapping.
D. Collection and updating of data for multipurpose land use
management
An urban area in central Pennsylvania and the surrounding
locality were investigated by photointerpretive and computer analysis
methods, both seperately and combined. Categories of
water, forest, high density suburbs, industrial, parking lots,
and concrete were reasonably well defined and classified.
Agricultural fields, highways, and low density suburbs require
more study. Some categories may not be obtained because of
size or low subject-to-background contrast. The temporal
aspect of the data for land use mapping is also being investigated.
E. Development of natural resource inventory systems
ORSER has discussed with the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources the potential use of remote sensing
data in a natural resource inventory and land use management
system to be called PENNRALI. This system will include other
types of related information, but ORSER will provide technical
assistantce for data formats, categories, etc., as related to
remote sensing data.
2. Geology and Hydrology
A. Characterization and analysis of geologic structures and terrain
Combined visual and digital techniques are used to analyze ERTS
data for geologic information in Pennsylvania. Supervised mapping
3
of parts of eastern Pennsylvania has delimited the Diabase Sills
and the Precambrian rocks of the Reading Prong with remarkable
accuracy. Unsupervised mapping yielded transgressive linear
features in unexpected density. These features exhibit strong
control over river valley and stream channel directions. Comparison
has been made of the orientation and length of lineaments in two
areas east and south of Harrisburg on the southern limit of the
Appalachian fold flexure. With ground mapping and underflight
data six scales of linear features have been recognized. Work
has just commenced on evaluation of the geology and structure in
the Pittsburgh area using ERTS imagery. A "long lineament" map
of Pennsylvania has been constructed. A tectonic map of the state
will be developed next. The Pennsylvania Geological Survey will
provide existing structural data for assistance in this project.
B. Inventory of mineral resources and mines
Using ERTS imagery, close correlation has been observed
between metallic ore deposits and the Mt. Union-Tyrone(Pa.) line-
ment. Five metallic sulfide deposits are known to be located
along this lineament and the bedrock conditions are currently
being investigated. U-2 underflight photography along this feature
has been requested. 'In the Ebensburg, Pa., area, an investigation
is being conducted to determine the quality of coal and mining
conditions relative to short lineaments observed on the ERTS imagery.
C. Detection of ground water sources from drainage, lineaments, and
fracture patterns.
Locations of known ground water sources are being correlated
with fracture traces and lineaments observed on ERTS imagery. Success
to date indicated that ERTS data will be a highly productive source
of information for fracture trace mapping on a regional scale for
ground water exploitation.
3. Pollution
A. Monitoring the environmental effects of power generating plants
The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pa.,
has been selected for this investigation. ERTS imagery has been
examined, aircraft underflight data has been obtained, and ERTS
digital data has been processed and classified for this area. Since
this plant is in final stages of construction, it is expected to
go "on line" soon and ERTS data will provide coverage of the area
both before and after the plant becomes operational.
2/L
B. Detection of sources of acid mine drainage
Digital processing of ERTS MSS data for areas along the West
Branch of the Susquehanna River has identified surface areas affected
by acid mine drainage. These areas could not be identified by
visual analysis of ERTS imagery.
C. Detection of air pollution damage
Detailed work on this project has just commenced. It is antic-
ipated that data from ERTS passes in the spring and early summer of
1972 will be more appropriate for analysis of this type.
4. Use of Remotely Sensed Data to Compliment Studies of Atmospheric Effects
Work has not commenced on this project. The position of State
Climatologist (who was to have performed this work as part of his duties
and without NASA funding) has been abolished and no replacement is
anticipated.
5. Data Processing
A. Data processing and pattern recognition techniques applied
to ERTS data
ORSER has developed and is using an operational system for
processing of both imagery and digital tapes. A standard digital
tape format was designed within which all known MSS sources (ERTS,
EREP, aircraft) can conveniently be placed. Computer programs
in use include statistical analyses, preprocessing, pattern
recognition and classification, and map print-outs. Photointer-
pretive techniques are continually applied to ERTS imagery and
to' photography from U-2 and C130 aircraft flights. Computer
differentiation of areas from scanner data is far superior
to that done by the human eye, but the photointerpreter is
essential, as an integral part of the data processing, for
providing identification and interpretation of features exhibited
on computer output. As a not unexpected result of preliminary
ERTS analysis, ORSER stringly feels that a hybrid approach to
data processing is essential..
B. Use of machine-aided image analysis
This task involves the use of General Electric Company
equipment located at Valley Forge, Pa. It was decided not to
initiate this task until the second year of the contract in order
that: (1) ORSER personnel would have a better understanding of the
use of ERTS data and the potential use of the GE equipment; and
(2) the equipment would have been updated and GE personnel would
be better able to suggest efficient and effective ways of using
the equipment.
II. AIRCRAFT SUPPORT
Both U-2 and C-130 aircraft photography is used in the ERTS analysis.
ORSER uses this information primarily as ground truth. ORSER has
received and will soon commence processing digital data from NASA
Houston for MSS data collected simultaneously with the photography.
The MSS data will also be used for ground truth and in addition, be
compared to ERTS data for evaluation of scale, resolution, and
distortion effects. Dr. Gary Petersen of ORSER attended a conference
at NASA MSC (Houston) on February 26, 1973. This conference was
called by the Aircraft Application Branch to discuss various aspects
of data acquisition and processing using the 24-channel MSS.
A set of maps is attached as Appendix A. The maps show the
NASA aircraft flight lines on which data was collected and is
available.to ORSER for support of this ERTS project.
III. EQUIPMENT
A new high intensity light table has been ordered using general
University funds provided to ORSER by the Space Science and Engineering
Laboratory (SSEL). This table will permit better viewing of color
ERTS transparencies.
The Bausch and Lomb Transferscope, which was ordered in December,
is now scheduled for delivery in June 1973. This late delivery will
slow some of the hybrid analysis which utilizes both imagery and
computer print-outs simultaneously.
IV. PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITY
As a result of the announcement by Governor Shapp of the submission
of an ERTS-B Proposal by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ORSER
received several inquiries regarding ERTS-1 activities. Local radio
and television interviews of ORSER personnel were aired, a university
class in community development visited ORSER, and various other
expressions of interest were received (including one seeking
information regarding bird sanctuaries).
V. SEMINAR
A continuing seminar was held during January-March, 1973.
The purpose of this seminar was to: (1) permit all co-investigators
an opportunity to present the many facets of work being conducted on
this project; (2) provide a forum for discussion and increased inter-
disciplinary activity within ORSER; (3) introduce non-ORSER personnel
to the potential uses of remote sensing; and (4) provide an educa-
tional opportunity for students interested in remote sensing. The
seminar was very successful and a continuation of the seminar is
planned for April and May. (The seminar is scheduled to conform
with the academic terms at The Pennsylvania State University.) A
list of the seminar topics is given below.
SEMINAR ON REMOTE SENSING
WINTER TERM 1973
Date Topic Speaker
Jan. 12 The ERTS-1 Sensing Systems G. J. McMurtry
Jan. 19 The Storage and Viewing of ERTS Nanna Bolling
Imagery and Underflight Photos and Harmer Weeden
Scan Data
Jan. 26 A Detailed Look At Multispectral Scan Harmer Weeden
Images and Factors Affecting Their F. Yates Borden
Quality
Feb. 2 The Need for and Use of Underflight G. W. Petersen
Data (Photo and Tape)
Feb. 9 Automatic Data Processing Techniques F. Yates Borden
B. Turner
Feb. 16 Progress Report on Combined Techniques F. Yates Borden
Interpretive and Computer D. Gold
H. Weeden
Feb. 23 How to Talk to the Computer(and F. Yates Borden
get an answer)
Mar. 2 ERTS Applications in Agriculture O G. W.Petersen
Mar. 9 ERTS Applications in Geology S. Alexander
D. Gold
R. Parizek
Mar. 16 ERTS Applications in Engineering H. Weeden
7
VI. RELATED ACTIVITIES
Dr. George McMurtry attended a meeting at NASA Wallops in Feb-
ruary between personnel from NASA and the Marine Science Consortium.
The purpose of the meeting was to seek potential applications of
remote sensing to problems in or near Chesapeake Bay. Potential use
of ORSER's data processing system was considered. A proposal is being
prepared by the Consortium to NASA for such a project involving both
Consortium and NASA personnel.
A contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a remote
sensing floodplain feasibility study on the West Branch of the
- Susquehanna River is being finalized.
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Interdisciplinary applications and interpretations of ERTS data within the Susquehanna River Basin

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