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3 Remote sensinzgsz methods for
engineering geological mapping
The last decades have brought an enormous development of remote sensing
techniques (4,5,6). Bach of these techniques, however, has certain
limitations as to the type of information they can provide and thus the
type of investigation for which they can be applied (7). These limitations
may be related to the following factors:
— each of the techniques uses a specific range of wavelengths of the
electromagnetic spectrum (6). Each of these wavelengths provides
exclusively information about a specific property such as reflectance
colour, temperature, roughness
— due to differences in the techniques of data collection the various
remote sensing techniques yield images of different scales or resolution
and variable geometrical qualities
— the cost of remote sensing imagery depends on flying cost (depending on
the size and scale), cost of processing of the images (including
rectifying).
It appears that a critical review of the present state of remote sensing
is needed to show potential users which techniques might be usefully
applied for different types of investigations.
The following chapters briefly summarize the applicability and limitations
of remote sensing techniques for engineering geological mapping.
Photography, multispectral scanning, thermography and radar are dealt with.
Geophysical techniques such as seismics, airborne magnetometry,
geo-electrical methods and sonar, which give linear information in the
form of sections and profiles have been left out.
4. Photography
4.1 Introduction
Photography applies optical systems to image information on the recording
medium of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum with some
extension into the invisible infrared and ultraviolet. Application of
different combinations of films and filters can narrow or broaden the
spectral range which is recorded in the form of black and white-, colour-