ATLAS digital image

of the UW-Madison
Arboretum

26 September 1997

ATLAS band 4
(0.63-0.69 µm)

1
 ATLAS digital image
of the UW-Madison
Arboretum

26 September 1997

ATLAS band 4
(0.63-0.69 µm)

Pixel A: 144
Pixel B: 33

Multi-Band Digital Images

Wavelength
bands:
DNs for a
Band 1 single
pixel:
Band 2
47
Band 3
19
Band 4
103
Band 5
62
…
39

… …

2
Band 6 (0.76-0.90 µm) Band 4 (0.63-0.69 µm) Band 2 (0.52-0.60 µm)

Band 6 (0.76-0.90 µm) Band 4 (0.63-0.69 µm) Band 2 (0.52-0.60 µm)

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 ATLAS image of
the UW-Madison
Arboretum

26 September 1997

ATLAS band 6
(0.76-0.90 µm; NIR)
displayed in red

ATLAS band 4
(0.63-0.69 µm; red)
displayed in green

ATLAS band 2
(0.52-0.60 µm; green)
displayed in blue

ATLAS digital image

of the UW-Madison
Arboretum

26 September 1997

Color composite of
bands 6,4,2 (R,G,B)

ATLAS Band #
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

095 127 157 144 106 082

056 044 042 033 050 049

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 Reference Data

Uses of Reference Data

1. Aid in the analysis and interpretation of remotely

sensed data (e.g., field check on rock type).

2. Calibrate a sensor (e.g., surface temperature

measurements made during thermal scanner mission).

3. Verify information extracted from remote sensing

data (e.g., checking automated land cover classification
vs. existing land cover map or GIS data layer).

5
 Examples of Reference Data

Visual verification in the field

• crop type/condition
• land use
• tree species

Sample collection/measurement
• water quality samples (e.g., suspended solids,
turbidity)
• crop yield
• timber volume
• temperature measurement
• radiometer readings to measure reflectance

Examples of Reference Data

Information interpreted from airphotos or aerial

observation
• timber blowdown
• natural disasters

Information resident in a GIS

• wetland boundaries
• ownership boundaries
• well locations

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 Considerations for Collection of
Reference Data
Cost

Timeliness
• time stable - e.g., rock type
• time critical - e.g., water quality
measurement

Data quality
• accuracy required
• statistical representation

Geographic position of data (often with GPS)

Field Spectroradiometer Example

Simultaneous measurement of upwelling and
downwelling radiation

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 Field Spectroradiometer Example

5.0

4.0
Lost Lake
Reflectance (%)

Crystal
3.0
Lake

2.0

1.0
Trout Bog

0.0
400 500 600 700 800 900
Wavelength (nm)

Bidirectional Reflectance

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 solar
azimuth

Bidirectional Reflectance

The amount of energy that is reflected from an

object depends on the position of the source
of illumination (the sun) and on the position
of the sensor.

The overall pattern of reflectance at all possible

combinations of illumination angle and viewing
angle is referred to as the Bidirectional
Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF).

An object’s BRDF depends on the wavelength

of illumination.

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 ATLAS

Bands 6, 4, 2
(NIR, red, green)

Chequamegon NF
Price Co, Wisconsin
September 10, 1998

nadir line

scan lines
solar
azimuth

The Global Positioning System

(GPS)

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 The Global Positioning System
(GPS)

• Developed by the US Department of Defense

(Russian counterpart called GLONASS; European
system in development).

• A group of 24 satellites (4 in 6 different orbit planes).

• About 20,200 km above the earth’s surface.

• Satellites each weigh 860 kg (about 1 ton), are 8.7

m wide, travel at 3.87 km/sec (8653 mph), in circular
orbits inclined about 55° from poles, revolve around
earth once every 12 hours.

The Global Positioning System

(GPS)

• With GPS receiving instruments, the user’s position

on the earth’s surface can be determined through the
use of triangulation.

• Distance from each satellite determined by measuring

travel time of signal from satellite to receiver.

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 A fourth distance measurement would go
through one of these two points, but in actual
practice a fourth measurement may not be
needed because one of the two points will be
unreasonable (i.e., thousands of kilometers
away from earth). However, most systems use
a minimum of four distance measurements.

Uses of GPS: Examples

Field surveys in support of

remote sensing and GIS
activities

Aircraft (navigate flight lines)

Location of trucks and

ships/boats

Farming - use GPS

positioning to vary fertilizer
rates within individual fields
(because of different soil
conditions)

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 Types of GPS Measurement

1. Single unit measurement

2. Simultaneous measurements at a base station

(known position) and one or more rovers. Data from
base station and rovers then later brought together for
computer post-processing (Differential GPS).

3. Like (2), only a radio link is set up between the base

station and the rovers. A correction signal is
instantaneously broadcast by the base station to correct
the rover’s position (Real-Time Differential GPS).

GPS Errors

•Satellite clock errors

•Satellite ephemeris errors (position errors)
•Atmospheric conditions
•Multipath errors
•Receiver errors
•Selective availability [eliminated May 1, 2000]
(errors deliberately introduced)
•Vertical positioning error usually 2x horizontal error

13
30 m resolution

10 m resolution

14
4 m resolution

1 m resolution

15
1 m resolution

0.6 m resolution

16
 0.2 m resolution

Geographic Information Systems

and Remote Sensing

Geographic Information System (GIS):

• Computer-based system for collection, storage,

analysis, and display of information about features
that are referenced by geographic location.
• Data types: locations and attributes of features.

Relationship Between GIS and Remote Sensing

• Digital remote sensing data used as layers in a GIS

• Layers in a GIS help analyze remote sensing data

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