Perception of a geological body using multiple source remotely-sensed data-relative influence of the spectral content and the spatial resolution

Abstract

Abstract Fracturing maps over a granitic dome (Scaër granite, Brittany, France) have been extracted from the most widely available remotely-sensed data and from aerial photographs. Comparison of the different maps obtained allowed the classification of the mapping potential of the different raw and merged images as well as ranking their ability to point out geological features at different scales. Three different types of geological features were pinpointed: a coarse regional fracturing, kilometric plutonic domes and finer geological structures such as circular features within the granitic dome. The best means of revealing each of these three types of geological features, proved to be radar images, multi-spectral data and aerial photographs, respectively. The data providing the largest range of observation and the greatest amount of information on geological structures and soil types were the merged Landsat-TM and SPOT panchromatic images.