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methods, which are still useful in the classification process.
Diazo Method ; A number of colors may be assigned to both
positives and negatives of ERTS bands in various combinations to
highlight features of interest when the films are sandwiched to
gether. This method, which can produce a full range color composite
from only two bands, usually results in a less expensive poorer
quality image than may be obtained through the normal photographic
process or from the color additive viewer. (Warrington and Ryerson
1974) .
Color Additive Viewer ; The principle of the color addit
ive viewer is similar to the diazo, although the "overlay" is accom
plished optically in a viewing device. The method has the same
flexibility as the diazo method with more easily reproduced results,
better resolution, and consequently a more useful image for inter
pretation. Costs are considerably increased over the diazo method.
Density Slicer : The analogue density slicer is a unique
way of studying the density variations within a single band of the
image.
Density steps are identified (sliced) and to each of these
a color may be assigned. The investigator must establish the sigr
nificance of the resulting density variations and then interpret
these for his problem. Although the method uses only one band, the
density slicer is the most sophisticated hardware used to assist
visual interpretation.
Digital Enhancement Methods : Digital enhancement methods
are concerned with enhancing the digital MSS data in such a way that
maximum visual discrimination between chosen land-use classes can
be achieved. At CCRS we have developed an interactive software-
hardware system (Goodenough et al 1974), called the MAD (Multi-
spectral Analyzer Display) system with which one can rapidly perform
all of the functions in color of the diazo method, color additive
viewers, or density slicers.
In addition, one can "add", "subtract", "and/or" any three
of the four ERTS bands, generate three theme classifications, and
produce photographic or digital copies of the results. The MAD
system enables a user to quickly ascertain the image combinations
which will be most useful for photointerpretative purposes.
A second approach to digital enhancement is the method
developed by Martin Taylor (1974) in collaboration with the staff of
CCRS. Taylor derives colors for an ERTS image by forming three in
formationally independent linear combinations of the four MSS bands.
These three linear combinations are mapped into the three visual
color dimensions of brightness, red-to-green ratio, and blue-to-
yellow ratio. One computes the linear combinations by selecting an
area on the image representative of the object types to be discrimi
nated. Digital or photographic reproductions of the results can