Module 2: Spectral Band Basics

The links posted here are to maps created using ERDAS IMAGINE 2010 software as part of the University of West Florida On-line GIS Certification program class, Photo Interpretation and Remote Sensing (GIS4035/L). The links require Internet Explorer to open and display properly.

The goal of the assignment was to use reflectance characteristics of known features in a satellite photo and different spectral band combinations measured by LANDSAT Thematic Mapper to identify said features. The first feature identified is water which has a very high absorbance for infrared radiation (IR) and so appears darker in infrared images. The second map shows a glacier which is somewhat the opposite of the water, reflecting much of the radiation in the lower visible and infrared layers. The last image shows an area of shallow water where the bottom can be seen in the image and is actually reflecting more IR radiation then deeper water would. Such situations can make it difficult to properly discern where features begin and end.

Map 1 - Water Feature

Map 2 - Glacier Feature

Map 3 - Shallow Water Feature



The lab was very interesting. I experimented with all the bands as can be seen in the images which are each set to different color combinations. For the glacier I actually used a combination labeled for Desert details but felt it was a better contrasting image then the plain IR. I did have some issues getting the map images together in remembering how to do it from last weeks labs but by the third map I had become pretty efficient. I could not figure out how to make a map template and will look further into doing so, as it does seem to save a little time.