inate 
Jor- 
e 
n 
ent 
d- 
apability 
lata, 
rdi- 
ie 
18 
THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GAP 
(Billingsley, 1976) 
      
      
    
  
    
Research - 
Technology 
to use 
Users - 
  
     
is bridge represent. 
applied developme 
   
Technology 
Researchers transfer gap 
applying 
technology 
Users doing 
LL" Research 
Figure 9: Technologists-users gap. 
Symptomatic for the gap is that many users are even unaware of the dif- 
ference between digital pre-processing and digital classification techniques. 
Similarly, the omittance of & good facility for obtaining hard copies of 
processed images for subsequent interpretation, in some processing set-ups, 
demonstrates that technologists also have a limited understanding of the 
other side's needs. 
The statistical classifiers tend to be considered by many users as black 
boxes. Improper use of such classifiers to areas not suited for automatic 
data extraction has been an dditional source of frustration. The pre-pro- 
cessing techniques meet less resistance among interpreters (user). The essen- 
tial concepts of the operations can easily be outlined, the results are often 
predictable and are appreciated by users skilled in interpretation. 
6. CONCLUSION 
We have reviewed some of the techniques that may serve to pre-process 
digital images for improved visual geoscience interpretation. The techni- 
ques originate from space research and artificial intelligence work. We 
argued that digital methods of image processing have a number of distinct 
advantages over analog methods and over interpreting unprocessed images. 
The actual review of techniques addresses separately single and multiple images, 
grouped into serveral classes of techniques. 
We believe that there is a wide range of capabilities added by processing 
digital images. Presently the techniques of pre-processing are being applied 
in an environment of research and development using remote sensing images 
(electronic image formation, telemetering). However, with increasing effi- 
ciency of algorithms, improved capability of image input-output and of 
computing, the advantages of digital processing will eventually lead to some 
wide-spread operational use of these techniques. This expectation is based 
however, on the assumption that digital (satellite) MSS data will continue to 
reach the users community. 
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ALEKSANDER,I. (1978) " Improving Patters of Recognition", Computing Europe, February 16. 
ALGAZI, V. (1973), " Multispectral Combination andDisplay of ERTS-1 Data", in Proc. of Third Earth Resources Tech- 
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ANDREWS, H., B. HUNT (1977) " Digital Image Restoration", Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey,USA.