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4. Analysis of subframes using additive colour techniques. An I 2 S Mini-Addcol
Viewer was used for this purpose.
2
The test area has a size of 3500 km and is contained in ERTS-frame 1028-10200,
taken on August 20, 1972. The image has zero cloud cover and is of good quality.
Figure 2 shows band 5 of this frame. For the analysis use was made of 1:1, 000, 000
scale diapositives supplied by NASA and of 1:250, 000 scale paper prints produced
by the ITC photographic department.
The four single bands: green, no. 4 (0.5-0. 6 micrometers), red, no. 5 (0. 6-0.7
micrometers), infrared no. 6 (0. 7-0. 8 micrometers), and infrared no. 7 (0.8-
1.1 micrometers), and the colour composite MSS4-5-7, were investigated for
gross information content.
It was found that the best single band for geological interpretation was the red
band (MSS-5). This band has the widest range of tonal values, which permits
better discrimination of subtle tonal changes associated with changes in lithology.
Bands 4 and 6 were found to be the least useful. Band 7 was the best band for
detection of water bodies, which have very dark signatures in this special region.
Spectral matching by comparing tonal signatures of features in different bands
was done preferentially by comparison of band 5 with band 7. This proved to be
the best combination for discrimination of water bodies, green vegetation, and
bare rock or soil.
The colour composite MSS 4-5-7 was considered extremely useful because of its
capability to depict vegetation patterns very clearly and also because of the fact
that geological units sometimes showed better differentiation due to the addition
of colour.
Using the Additive Colour Viewer, various band and filter combinations were
tried out. It was found that the main capability of the instrument was that it could
produce images on which the visibility of certain features of the scene was im
proved. It was not possible to find a combination by which new (previously unde
tected) features were seen. Also, it was not possible to find a single combination
by which all features of interest were simultaneously enhanced to an optimal
degree.
DISCUSSION OF INTERPRETATION RESULTS
The annotated sub-frame covering the Montalban test site is shown in Figure 3.
It represents the final result of an intensive analysis aimed at an optimal infor
mation extraction. The original mapping scale was 1:250, 000. A summary discus
sion of the interpretation results will be given below.