Series Report Number D-8260-05-05 Remote Sensing Technology: Guidelines and Applications within the Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation September 2005 Mission Statements The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation’s natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian Tribes and our commitments to island communities. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Technical Service Center, Denver, Colorado Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Group, D882600 Technical Memorandum No. D-8260-05-05 Remote Sensing Technology: Guidelines and Applications with the Bureau of Reclamation Prepared: Edmond W. Holroyd, III, Ph.D. Retired, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Group, D882600 Technical Approval: Mike Pucherelli Group Manager, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Group, D882600 _____________ Peer Review: Douglas Clark Date Physical Scientist, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Group, D882600 Table of Contents Part I. Overview of Technology ........................................................................................ 1 1. Glossary and Abbreviations1 2. Physics of Remote Sensing......................................................................................... 5 Color ...........................................................................................................................8 Sample Spectra............................................................................................................ 9 Reflections and scattering......................................................................................... 14 Data Types ................................................................................................................ 16 Resolution and scale ................................................................................................. 17 3. Data sources.............................................................................................................. 20 Photography .............................................................................................................. 20 Videography.............................................................................................................. 21 Scanners .................................................................................................................... 21 Satellites.................................................................................................................... 22 Radar......................................................................................................................... 27 LIDAR ...................................................................................................................... 30 Thermal..................................................................................................................... 33 Image geometry ........................................................................................................ 35 Platform attitude........................................................................................................ 37 4. Datum and Projections.............................................................................................. 39 5. Global Positioning Systems ...................................................................................... 40 6. Image Processing ...................................................................................................... 42 Adjusting Contrast .................................................................................................... 42 Displaying Color....................................................................................................... 47 Resampling Styles..................................................................................................... 49 Filters ........................................................................................................................ 50 Fast Fourier Transform Filters.................................................................................. 51 Band Combinations................................................................................................... 53 Automatic classifications.......................................................................................... 56 Water Studies............................................................................................................ 59 Pan-sharpening.......................................................................................................... 63 Georegistration.......................................................................................................... 65 7. Photogrammetry........................................................................................................ 66 Map accuracy standards............................................................................................ 71 8. Digital Elevation Models .......................................................................................... 73 Viewshed................................................................................................................... 75 Watershed ................................................................................................................. 76 Vegetation Gradients ................................................................................................ 76 9. Geographic Information Systems ............................................................................. 77 Rasters....................................................................................................................... 77 Vectors ...................................................................................................................... 78 CAD .......................................................................................................................... 80 TIN............................................................................................................................ 80 Data Bases................................................................................................................. 80 Conversions............................................................................................................... 80 Changes..................................................................................................................... 80 i 10. Applications ............................................................................................................ 82 II. Overview of Usage Within the Bureau of Reclamation............................................... 82 Reclamation Project Examples ................................................................................. 83 List of Figures Fig. 1. The electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths cover many orders of magnitude. ...................................6 Fig. 2. Theoretical black body radiation from the Sun surface, diluted by distance to the Earth, and approximate radiation produced at Earth temperatures......................................................................... 6 Fig. 3. Atmospheric absorptions of radiation. ................................................................................................7 Fig. 4. Color combinations from light emitting and absorbing sources..........................................................8 Fig. 5. The effects of color definition by hue, intensity, and saturation. ........................................................9 Fig. 6. Reflectance spectra of varieties of quartz minerals. ........................................................................ 10 Fig. 7. Reflectance spectra of varieties of feldspar minerals. ....................................................................... 10 Fig. 8. Reflectance spectra of carbonate minerals. .................................................................................... 10 Fig. 9. Reflectance spectra of varieties of iron oxide minerals..................................................................... 10 Fig. 10. Reflectance spectra of varieties of mica minerals. ......................................................................... 10 Fig. 11. Reflectance spectra of varieties of clay minerals .............................................................................10 Fig. 12. Reflectance spectra of weather related features. ..............................................................................11 Fig. 13. Reflectance spectra of water bodies. ................................................................................................11 Fig. 14. Emission spectra of CRT computer display.. .................................................................................. 12 Fig. 15. Emission spectra of liquid crystal computer displays. .................................................................... 12 Fig. 16. Reflectance spectra of green plants..................................................................................................12 Fig. 17. Reflectance spectra of some flower................................................................................................. 12 Fig. 18. Reflectance spectra of lichens..........................................................................................................12