Geology topics
Allen H. Watkins
Publications and source records attributed to Allen H. Watkins.
Higher resolution satellite remote sensing and the impact on image mapping
Recent advances in spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution of civil land remote sensing satellite data are presenting new opportunities for image mapping applications. The U.S. Geological Survey's experimental satellite image mapping program is evolving toward larger scale image map products with increased information content as a result of improved image processing techniques and increased resolution. Thematic mapper data are being used to produce experimental image maps at 1:100,000 scale that meet established U.S. and European map accuracy standards. Availability of high quality, cloud-free, 30-meter ground resolution multispectral data from the Landsat thematic mapper sensor, along with 10-meter ground resolution panchromatic and 20-meter ground resolution multispectral data from the recently launched French SPOT satellite, present new cartographic and image processing challenges. The need to fully exploit these higher resolution data increases the complexity of processing the images into large-scale image maps. The removal of radiometric artifacts and noise prior to geometric correction can be accomplished by using a variety of image processing filters and transforms. Sensor modeling and image restoration techniques allow maximum retention of spatial and radiometric information. An optimum combination of spectral information and spatial resolution can be obtained by merging different sensor types. These processing techniques are discussed and examples are presented.
Review of developments in space remote sensing for monitoring resources
Space remote sensing systems are compared for suitability in assessing and monitoring the Earth's renewable resources. Systems reviewed include the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), the French Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terre (SPOT), the German Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS) Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner (MOMS), the European Space Agency (ESA) Spacelab Metric Camera, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Large Format Camera (LFC) and Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-A and -B), the Russian Meteor satellite BIK-E and fragment experiments and MKF-6M and KATE-140 camera systems, the ESA Earth Resources Satellite (ERS-1), the Japanese Marine Observation Satellite (MOS-1) and Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1), the Canadian Radarsat, the Indian Resources Satellite (IRS), and systems proposed or planned by China, Brazil, Indonesia, and others. Also reviewed are the concepts for a 6-channel Shuttle Imaging Spectroradiometer, a 128-channel Shuttle Imaging Spectrometer Experiment (SISEX), and the U. S. Mapsat.
The role of remote sensing in the Department of Interior
Since its creation in 1849, USDI has faced the challenging mission of being custodian of the Nation's natural resources. USDI is directly responsible for management of 30 % of the United State's land area, including administration of more than 600 million acres of Federal land and 300 million acres of subsurface lands where mineral rights have been retained by the Federal Government.
Data availability and the role of the Earth Resources Observation Systems Data Center
With the launch of LANDSAT-1 in July 1972, and the follow-on launch of LANDSAT-2 in January of this year, routine availability of satellite imagery and electronic data of the earth's resources has become a reality. Federal data centers provide LANDSAT data to resource managers and the general public. These data centers have to date provided almost 500,000 frames of LANDSAT data at a cost of more than $2,000,000. Data from the LANDSAT satellite program, along with data and information from the Skylab manned program, are available over any location to anyone for the cost of reproduction.