Remote Sensing Analysis Research Articles

Using Remote Sensing to Evaluate Environmental Institutional Designs: A Habitat Conservation Planning Example

Objective. Satellite‐based remote‐sensing analysis is a beneficial, yet underused, tool for environmental policy, planning, and evaluation. We identify its benefits and costs to encourage social scientists to consider the use of remote sensing as a tool for planning and evaluating environmental institutions. Methods. We analyze two multispectral Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite images to evaluate a habitat conservation plan (HCP) implemented pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. Results. Image analysis provides useful broad spatial scale information on HCP performance that is not discernible to the naked eye or through other methodologies. Conclusions. Satellite image analysis should be considered as a tool for planning and evaluating environmental institutional designs—despite the financial costs and requisite technical training. These images provide ecological and land cover change information that may not be available elsewhere. We provide lessons learned to help make analysts cognizant of some important issues surrounding the use of satellite‐based imagery for environmental institutional analysis.

Laser remote-sensing system analysis for search and rescue

We develop a general model of a laser remote-sensing system for search and rescue using targets marked with fluorescent dye. The dye fluoresces at a longer peak wavelength than the incident radiation, enabling a dye-covered target to be distinguished from the unshifted ground echo by the search system. The principal result is a simple expression derived for the average laser power required to search at a particular rate given a required ground energy density. A similar expression is applicable to imaging lidar systems. The example system shown indicates that active probing for lost planes may be practical.

Fukuoka Geographic Environmental Information System and its Practical Use of Sattelite Remote-Sensing

Fukuoka Geographic Environmental Information System (GIS) is a powerful support tool for environmental preservation administration. Using an Engineering Work Station platform, this GIS displays overlayed images of vector, raster and mesh data with associated attributes data(numerical, textual and image data). This GIS's function is one of database, maintenance, networking and remote-sensing analysis. We present an instance of GIS system development and consider the suitability of GIS for a local Self-governing body.

A quad-pol radar scattering model for use in remote sensing of lava flow morphology

Mapping of spatial variations in surface roughness over large regions is required to understand the nature of volcanic terrains. An invertible scattering model for quad-polarization radar data is presented to assist in the remote-sensing analysis of lava flow surface morphology. This model permits separation of the polarized part of the radar echo into quasispecular, dihedral, and small-perturbation scattering components, based on an assumed surface dielectric constant. Tests are presented for a quad-pol scene of Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, where there are a number of basaltic lava flows of differing surface morphology. Comparison of calculated model components with the observed morphology of the lava flows suggests that this technique may be useful for the remote description of changes in surface roughness. The scattering mechanisms chosen to represent the polarizing behavior of the real surface display correlations which indicate that they are sensitive to the expected scales of roughness.

Identification of Subsurface Structure in United States Gulf Coast Using Remote-Sensing Imagery: ABSTRACT

Interpretation of remote-sensing imagery can identify surface indications of deep subsurface structures in the US Gulf Coast. Structural growth can cause subtle changes in surface geology, topography, drainage patterns, vegetation, and soil moisture that are identifiable with Multispectral Scanner (MSS) Landsat and National High Altitude Photography Program (NHAP) images. Structural growth associated with salt diapirs, listric normal faults, and rollover anticlines has been identified in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana with remote-sensing imagery. Interactive computer manipulation effectively enhances such imagery. It enables the accurate integration of surface and subsurface data. By stacking geographically correlated data, explorationists can examine anomalous features from many different data, relating surface remote-sensing anomalies directly to subsurface structure. If an area lacks subsurface data, a remote-sensing lead can be used to guide subsurface data acquisition. MSS images are an effective reconnaissance tool enabling economical examination of the surface geology of entire basins. Their synoptic perspective makes them well suited for study of regional structural styles. NHAP images can give additional detailed geologic information about potential structures identified first from MSS images. Basins such as the Gulf Coast with unconsolidated surface units and dense vegetation can make remote-sensing analysis difficult. This problem can be overcome by integratingmore » multiple image, surface, and subsurface data, to identify potential structures that previously had been overlooked.« less