The author has identified the following significant results. Areas of post 1970 and 1972 land use changes were identified solely from the Skylab imagery from comparisons with 1970 land use maps. Most land use changes identified involved transition from agriculture to single family residential land use. The second most prominent changes identified from the Skylab imagery were areas presently under construction. Post 1970 changes from Skylab were compared with the 1972 changes noted from the high altitude photographs. A good correlation existed between the change polygons mapped from Skylab and those mapped from the 1972 high altitude aerial photos. In addition, there were a number of instances where additional built-up land use not noted in the 1972 aerial photo as being developed were identified on the Skylab imagery. While these cases have not been documented by field observation, by correlating these areas with the appearance of similar land use areas whose identity has been determined, we can safely say that we have been able to map further occurrences of land use change beyond existing high altitude photo coverage from the Skylab imagery. It was concluded that Skylab data can be used to detect areas of land use change within an urban setting

Alexander, R. H.

Milazzo, V. A.

English

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

NASA Technical Reports Server

E 7.4 -1 0.4 7.3.
URBAN AND REGIONAL LAND USE ANALYSIS: 2
CARETS AND CENSUS CITIES EXPERIMENT PACKAGE
SKYLAB/EREP INVESTIGATION NO. 469
NASA Order No. T-5290 B H
C-1 CI
"Pad available under .IAA sp6noriship "
in the interest of early and wide dis- 
-
semination of Earth Resources Survey
Program information and without liabilit yMONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTJANUARY through MARCH 1974 afor any use made thereof." J m
G 0
00 H () H
HO H¢3
Robert H. Alexander
and n c mE j
Valerie A. Milazzo a
U.S. Geological Surveye M
Geographic Applications Program
Reston, Virginia 22092
March 20, 1974
-j
Principal Investigator NASA Technical Monitor
Robert H. Alexander John T. Wheeler
U.S. Geological Survey Technology Utilization Officer
Geographic Applications Program NASA-Manned Spacecraft Center
Reston, Virginia 22092 Code JM7
Houston, Texas 77058
Publication authorized by the Director, U. S. Geological Survey
Geogaphc Aplictios Prgra NAA-Maned Spaecrat CntI
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740013884 2020-03-23T09:44:10+00:00Z
URBAN AND REGIONAL LAND USE ANALYSIS:
CARETS AND CENSUS CITIES EXPERIMENT PACKAGE
Monthly Progress Report: January through March 1974
Investigation No. 469
a. Overall status, including problem areas and significant
progress to date:
a.l. CARETS -- Land use analysis: The CARETS land use analysis
effort is just getting underway during the period of this report,
with the selection of areas for which suitable imagery is available
for first-priority, more detailed analysis. Two areas have been
selected: the Washington-Baltimore area and the Atlantic and
Chesapeake Bay coastal areas of the southern Delmarva Peninsula.
Several possible mapping formats are being considered, along with
a spatial sampling strategy for selective comparison of the Skylab-
derived land use measurements with those of ERTS, aircraft, and
ground data. This work plan is being coordinated with the portion
of the CARETS-ERTS experiment which calls for the digitizing and
subsequent computer processing of land use "polygons" as identified
and mapped from the Skylab imagery. Since the ERTS work to date in
map digitizing has been done in a portion of the test site which,
unfortunately, was not covered by Skylab (the Norfolk-Portsmouth
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area), data for comparison with
Skylab is not yet available in quantitative form. Delays in sub-
contracts and equipment procurement have thus affected the ERTS
and Skylab CARETS experiments.
a.2. CARETS -- Land use climatology: During the period of this
report the final ground measurements in support of the land use
climatology experiment were taken at the time of the EREP pass on
January 31, 1974 at 10:31 a.m. local time Baltimore. Two previous
attempts were made in January, and three in December, but all were
scrubbed either because of weather or because of crew schedule
changes. Field data from the January 31 measurements are summarized
below:
Site: Tridelphia Reservoir, Maryland
water depth: 55 ft.
water very turbid
albedo of water: 0.1 my
-2-
Solar Air
Water Surface Radiation Temp.
Time EDT Temp. 0C (mv) oF.
10:15 +5
10:20 5 0.7 48
10:25 5 0.6 48
10:30 5 0.6 47
10:35 5 0.7 47
10:40 5 0.6 47
10:45 5 0.6 47
Data from the thermal channel of the S-192 scanner is of crucial
importance to this portion of the experiment. Screening film
from Skylab 2 received thus far is not acceptable, either because
of lack of contrast in the print we received, or because of
excessive noise in the system. The NASA Principal Investigators
Management Office has been so informed. Before proceeding with
the analysis phase of this part of the project, we need to know
whether: (1) the Skylab 2 data can be improved by enhancement
techniques at NASA to the degree where they can serve satisfac-
torily as input to the surface climate simulation model we are
employing; (2) Skylab 3 or 4 data for Baltimore can be satis-
factorily processed to serve the same purposes (particularly data
obtained after change of the detector in the Skylab 4 mission; or(3) in the event that no satisfactory thermal data for the Baltimore
site are obtained from any mission, thermal data taken over another
test site could be substituted. If neither (1) nor (2) prove to be
viable,we will have to confer with all the investigators involved
in the land use climatology portion of this investigation before
deciding whether option (3) is workable. Also, if NASA is unable
to supply processed S-192 data in a form suitable for the land use
climatology experiment, it is almost certain that this investiga-
tion's budget will not cover additional data processing costs if
we have to undertake extensive additional computer processing before
the data can be input into the model. Therefore, an early confer-
ence between NASA and USGS staff on the S-192 problem seems called
for.
On March 11, 1974, this investigation provided ground data in
support of the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan(ERIM)/Skylab investigation (Fred Thomson, investigator). The
data provided to ERIM was in the form of aircraft-derived land
use maps, land use change maps, and cultural features overlay,
for the following four sheets in the CARETS map series:
Sheet No. 9-- Westminster
10 -- Baltimore
17 -- Washington
18 -- Annapolis
-3-
It is our understanding that these data are to be used in support
of further research on the usefulness of the Skylab sensors,
including the S-192 scanner. If it seems likely that the ERIM
project might result in better tapes from the scanner data,
further cooperation in the form of provision of those tapes in a
form readable on USGS equipment might well help to solve some of
the problems outlined above. We have, of course, also been
cooperating with ERIM through their collection and processing of
aircraft data obtained for the USGS Skylab-preparatory mission
(55M) flown over Baltimore in 1972. A draft of the ERIM report
on that mission has been received and is being reviewed by us.
a.3. Census Cities: Since the last reporting period, the Census
Cities portion of the Skylab investigation has received 9 x9 inch
enlargements of SL-2 190B imagery for the Peoria test site. SL-3
earth terrain camera coverage in 5 x 5 inch format has been
received for Phoenix, New Orleans, Pontiac, Aurora, New Haven,
Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh. Multi-
spectral camera coverage in 70 mm format from the SL-3 mission
has also been received for the Phoenix and San Francisco test
sites.
Much of the work during this reporting period has involved iden-
tification and classification of Skylab imagery and quick-look
appraisals of image quality. We find the overall quality to be
very good and we are especially optimistic about the usefulness
of the earth terrain camera coverage for metropolitan land use
analysis.
Color print enlargements at 1:100,000 scale from S-190B imagery
are being ordered for all test sites for which this coverage has
been received. In addition, false color infrared prints and trans-
parencies are being processed from the appropriate S-190A black-
and-white transparencies in the different spectral bands for
selected test sites. The color enlargements and color IR images
will be used to facilitate data analysis.
b. Recommendations concerning decision and/or actions required
to ensure the attainment of the experiment's scientific
objectives:
It is recommended that the matter of provision of S-192 data for
the land use climatology part of this experiment be the subject
of an early conference among NASA and USGS project staff, as
'indicated in the discussion of problems, Section a.2., above.
-4-
c. Expected accomplishments during the next report periods:
(1) complete paper on evaluation of Skylab data (Phoenix
prime example) for metropolitan planning.
(2) prepare for user evaluation of Skylab data from CARETS
area.
(3) put finishing touches on optical integrating technique
for deriving net radiation maps from thermal imagery,
as back-up technique for processing of data from S-192
scanner.
(4) continue land use analysis of urban area S-190A and B
imagery.
d. Significant results and their relationship to practical
applications or operational problems:
During this reporting period, work continued on the analysis of
SL-2 and SL-3 190A and 190B imagery for the Phoenix test site.
Land use interpretation and change detection analysis were
performed using 1:100,000 photographic enlargements of a portion
of the Skylab image. Comparisons were made between the 1973
Skylab imagery, 1972 ERTS imagery, and the 1970 and 1972 land
use data base derived from high-altitude aircraft photography
for a portion of the Phoenix area to compare and contrast sensor/
platform capabilities for land use mapping and change detection.
When all the findings are in, it is expected that these results
will aid in selection of sensor-platform combinations that will
best serve the needs of land use data users in metropolitan
regions.
e. Summary outlook for the remaining effort to be performed:
Optimism previously expressed concerning the value of Skylab
photographic data for fulfilling the objectives of this experi-
ment still prevails. The use of the S-192 scanner data in the
land use climatology portion of the experiment is still clouded
by some uncertainties, as explained in Section a.2 above.
<I
-5-
f. Travel summary and plans:
Valerie Milazzo will present an invited paper on the use of
Skylab imagery in detecting urban growth at the annual meeting
of the American Geophysical Union in Washington, D.C. on April 8.
Milazzo will also present a paper entitled "Some findings on
the Applications of ERTS and Skylab imagery for metropolitan
land use analysis" at the Ninth International Symposium on
Remote Sensing of Environment to be held in Ann Arbor, Michigan
in April.
Approved:
Robert H. Alexander
Principal Investigator
SKYLAB/EREP INVESTIGATION NO. 469


Urban and regional land use analysis:  CARETS and Census Cities experiment package

E 7.4- 10.2 5.2.
URBAN AND REGIONAL LAND USE ANALYSIS:
CARETS AND CENSUS CITIES EXPERIMENT PACKAGE
. SKYLAB/EREP INVESTIGATION NO.- 469
SU NASA Order #T-5290 B
oMONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT, NOVEMBER, 1973
Robert H. Alexander and Valerie Milazzo
U.S. Geological Survey
Geographic Applications Program
Reston, Virginia 22092
November 20, 1973
(E74-10252) URBAN AND REGIONAL LAND USE N74-16013
ANALYSIS: CARETS AND CENSUS CITIES
EXPERIMENT PACKAGE Monthly Progress
SReport, Nov. 1973 (Geoloqical Survey, Unclas
Reston, Va.1 ) p HC $3.00 CSCL 08B G3/13 00252
Principal Investigator NASA Technical Monitor
Robert H. Alexander John T. Wheeler
U.S. Geological Survey Technology Utilization Officer
Geographic Applications Program NASA-Manned Spacecraft Center
Reston, Virginia 22092 Code JM7
Houston, Texas 77058
Publication authorized by the Director, U.S. Geological Survey
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740007900 2020-03-23T12:40:36+00:00Z
URBAN AND REGIONAL LAND USE ANALYSIS:
CARETS AND CENSUS CITIES EXPERIMENT PACKAGE
Monthly Progress Report: November 20, 1973
Investigation No. 469
a. Overall status, including problem areas and significant progress
to date:
The Geographic Applications Program moved from downtown Washington
to the new USGS National Center in Reston, Virginia on November 16,
1973. The new address of the Skylab team for Investigation No. 469
is:
USGS National Center
Mail Stop 115
Reston, Virginia 22092
The Skylab investigation suffered a slight delay because of the
disruption of the move and the readjustment in the new location;
however, this should be more than compensated by improved efficiency
resulting from proximity to other USGS units cooperating and
collaborating on Skylab.
To date, the Census Cities portion of this experiment has received
SL-2 S-190A camera coverage for all bands in 70 mm format for
Phoenix, Tucson, Peoria, Cedar Rapids, San Bernardino/Riverside,
and San Francisco. In addition, we have received 9 x 9 inch
enlargements of S-190A imagery for all of the above test sites,
except San Bernardino/Riverside, plus Washington, D.C. Earth Terrain
Camera coverage has been received for Peoria and Cedar Rapids only.
We have received 8 x 10 press release color prints of SL-3 Earth
Terrain color imagery and portions of color transparencies for the
Phoenix and Washington, D.C. test sites. These were given to
Valerie Milazzo by Dr. Wilmarth during her recent trip to Cape
Canaveral to attend the pre-SL-4 launch news conference. This
imagery does not constitute fullfilment of the required NASA SL-3
data shipment, which we hope to receive soon.
Color print enlargements at 1:100,000 scale from 70 mm 9 x 9 inch
color transparency enlargements are being ordered for all test
sites for which imagery has been received. In addition, false
color infrared prints-and transparencies are being made from the
appropriate 9 x 9 inch black-and-white spectral bands for selected
-2-
test sites. The color enlargements and color IR images will be
used to facilitate data analysis.
Land use and change detection analysis are underway using S-190A
color imagery of the Phoenix test site. Enlargements at 1:100,000
scale are being analyzed. Preliminary findings indicate that
S-190A imagery can be used to update portions of an existing 1970
high flight photo-derived land use data base. Evaluation of
Skylab imagery for urban land use change detection in other test
sites is planned. Results are documented in section "d" of this
report.
b. Recommendations concerning decision and/or actions required to
ensure the attainment of the experiment's scientific objectives.
No additional recommendations since those noted in the last reporting
period.
c. Expected accomplishments during the next report periods.
We plan to continue and intensify the land use analysis of Skylab
S-190A imagery and expand the number of test sites under study for
which we have received Skylab data. We anticipate more comprehen-
sive urban analysis of the newly acquired S-190B imagery for some of
our test sites.
d. Significant results and their relationship to practical appli-
cations or operational problems.
During this .reporting period, work was concentrated on the analysis
of the SL-2 S-190A imagery for the Phoenix test site. Land use
interpretation and change detection analysis were performed using
1:100,000 photographic enlargements of a portion of the S-190A
70 mm color transparency. Comparisons were made between the 1973
Skylab imagery and the 1970 and 1972 land use data base for a 20 x
20 km area west of Phoenix to determine if changes in land use could be
identified from the Skylab imagery. Results of this study were
given verbally to Dr. Wilmarth by Valerie Milazzo at the time of
the Skylab-4 news conference in Cape Canaveral. A summary of the
significant findings to date is given below.
Areas of post 1970 and 1972 land use changes were identified solely
from the Skylab imagery from comparisons with 1970 land use map.
Most land use changes identified involved transition from agricul-
ture to single family residential land use. The second most
-3-
prominant changes identified from the Skylab imagery were areas
presently under construction. Post 1970 changes from Skylab were
compared with the 1972 changes noted from the high altitude photo-
graphs. A good correlation existed between the change polygons
mapped from Skylab and those mapped from the 1972 high altitude aerial
photos. In addition, there were a number of instances where additional
built-up land use not noted in the 1972 aerial photo as being developed
were identified on the Skylab imagery. While these cases have not
been documented by field observation, by correlating these areas
with the appearance of similar land use areas whose identity has been
determined, we can safely say that we have been able to map further
occurences of land use change beyond existing high altitude photo cov-
erage from the Skylab imagery. From this we conclude, that Skylab
data can be used to detect areas of land use change within an urban
setting and can be of great value in updating the existing land use
data base.
e. Summary outlook for the remaining effort to be performed.
The results obtained from the analysis of the SL-2 S-190A imagery
reported above indicate an optimistic outlook for the remaining
effort of land use analysis from the photographic sensors of
Skylab. The outlook for the land use climatology portion of this
experiment is going to depend heavily upon receipt of usable thermal
data from the S-192 scanner, which thus far has not been available.
f. Travel summary and plans.
Valerie Milazzo traveled to Cape Canaveral November 12 to attend
the press briefing held prior to the launch of SL-4. Samuel
Outcalt and John Lewis traveled to the Lawrence Liverrmore
Laboratories, University of California, Livermore; the Division
of Environmental Studies, University of California, Davis; and
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside,
to coordinate the numerical modeling and data processing phases of
the land use climatology experiment with other research centers involved
in similar work. This trip also permitted direct exchange of data and
procedures with Robert Pease at Riverside, the third investigator
on the climatological portion of the Skylab experiment.
Approved:
Robert H. Alexander
Principal Investigator
SKYLAB/EREP INVESTIGATION NO. 469


Urban and regional land use analysis: CARETS and Census Cities experiment package

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