The Use of ERTS Imagery to Monitor Surface Mining of Coal in North Central Tennessee.
Abstract
This investigation evaluates the utility of simple, human visual interpretation procedures in deriving county-wide strip mining acreage estimates from ERTS-1 imagery. It evaluates the inherent accuracies obtained for a five county study area in North Central Tennessee. Related geographic ERTS investigations are reviewed and potential applications of ERTS suggested by this study are indicated. Two approaches to deriving mining acreages were examined: a point sampling technique and an areal estimation sampling procedure. For the study area, the point sampling technique was found to be faster and more accurate. The inherent advantage of ERTS imagery is provision of cyclic, synoptic coverage on a timely basis. The principal limitation is the relatively low resolution level of the ERTS imagery as compared to larger scale, lower altitude aircraft remote sensing capabilities. It is hoped that this study will serve to help geographers, conservationists, planners and others to gain an understanding of the landuse information content available through use of simple interpretation techniques from small-scale ERTS imagery. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA052294
Entities
People
- James Thomas Ralph Johnson Jr
Organizations
- University of Tennessee system