ZY-3 MUX传感器数据的缨帽变换系数推导

缨帽变换是一种实用性都很强的遥感影像增强方法,已被成功地应用于各种遥感领域。然而,对于缺少中红外波段的4波段高分卫星传感器,采用常规的Gram-Schmidt正交化方法难以推导出缨帽变换的湿度分量,即便少量推导出湿度分量的算法也存在着结果失真的问题。因此,开展针对4波段传感器缨帽变换系数的推导,提出了先确定湿度分量、再确定亮度和绿度分量的逆推算法,并将其应用在ZY-3 MUX传感器数据上。实验结果表明:(1)逆推方法可以有效地推导出ZY-3 MUX缨帽变换的湿度分量,较好地解决了前人研究中出现的湿度分量失真问题;(2)新方法求出的3个分量的散点在其三维特征空间中呈现典型的"缨帽"特征,较于传统的GramSchmidt正交化方法,新方法的散点在水体、植被和建筑用地/裸土之间的空间分布位置可以更好地相互分离,不会造成不同地类之间的混淆;(3)采用新方法所得到的缨帽变换系数的精度好于传统的Gram-Schmidt正交化方法,体现在新方法具有较高的R值和较低的RMSE误差。本研究可为ZY-3 MUX数据提供一套有效的缨帽变换系数,同时也为缺乏中红外波段的高空间分辨率遥感影像提供一种新的缨帽变换系数推导方法,解决了常规GramSchmidt正交化方法无法准确表示湿度分量的问题。     

Landsat系列卫星对地观测40年回顾及LDCM前瞻

Landsat系列卫星数据凭借其长期连续、全球覆盖、适中的时间空间分辨率和科学的数据存档与分发策略等优势,逐渐成为地表特征和地球系统科学研究中最有效的遥感数据之一,并广泛应用于生态环境、农林地矿、能源资源、教育科研和政府管理等领域。而第8代陆地卫星--陆地卫星数据连续任务卫星(LDCM)于2013年2月发射升空,该卫星携带了运行性陆地成像仪(OLI)和热红外传感器(TIRS)两种传感器。与Landsat 7/ETM+相比,OLI/TIRS在波段设置、辐射分辨性能和扫描方式上都得到很大改进,其中OLI共包括9个波段,新增海岸带(coastal)监测和卷云(cirrus)识别波段,TIRS则设置了两个热红外波段。如果LDCM能够成功升空运行,它将继续承担起长期连续对地观测的使命。     

Performance of Landsat TM in ship detection in turbid waters

The visible and near infrared bands of Landsat have limitations for detecting ships in turbid water. The potential of TM middle infrared bands for ship detection has so far not been investigated. This study analyzed the performance of the six Landsat TM visible and infrared bands for detecting dredging ships in the turbid waters of the Poyang Lake, China. A colour composite of principal components analysis (PCA) components 3, 2 and 1 of a TM image was used to randomly select 81 dredging ships. The reflectance contrast between ships and adjacent water was calculated for each ship. A z-score and related p-value were used to assess the ship detection performance of the six Landsat TM bands. The reflectance contrast was related to water turbidity to analyze how water turbidity affected the capability of ship identification. The results revealed that the TM middle infrared bands 5 and 7 better discriminated vessels from surrounding waters than the visible and near infrared bands 1–4. A significant relation between reflectance contrast and water turbidity in bands 1–4 could explain the limitations of bands 1–4; while water turbidity has no a significant relation to the reflectance contrast of bands 5 and 7. This explains why bands 5 and 7 detect ships better than bands 1–4.     

Land use change detection based on multi‐date imagery from different satellite sensor systems

An empirical study was performed assessing the accuracy of land use change detection when using satellite image data acquired ten years apart by sensors with differing spatial resolutions. Landsat/Multi‐spectral Scanner (MSS) with Landsat/Thematic Mapper (TM) or SPOT/High Resolution Visible (HRV) multi‐spectral (XS) data were used as a multi‐data pair for detecting land use change. The primary objectives of the study were to: (1) compare standard change detection methods (e.g. multi‐date ratioing and principal components analysis) applied to image data of varying spatial resolution; (2) assess whether to transform the raster grid of the higher resolution image data to that of the lower resolution raster grid or vice‐versa in the registration process: and (3) determine if Landsat/TM or SPOT/ HRV(XS) data provides more accurate detection of land use changes when registered to historical Landsat/MSS data.

Ratioing multi‐sensor, multi‐date satellite image data produced higher change detection accuracies than did principal components analysis and is useful as a land use change enhancement technique. Ratioing red and near infrared bands of a Landsat/MSS‐SPOT/HRV(XS) multi‐date pair produced substantially higher change detection accuracies (～10%) than ratioing similar bands of a Landsat/MSS ‐ Landsat/TM multi‐data pair. Using a higher‐resolution raster grid of 20 meters when registering Landsat/MSS and SPOTZHRV(XS) images produced a slightly higher change detection accuracy than when both images were registered to an 80 meter raster grid. Applying a “majority”; moving window filter whose size approximated a minimum mapping unit of 1 hectare increased change detection accuracies by 1–3% and reduced commission errors by 10–25%.     

Use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of Remote Sensing Images in Wetland Change Detection on the Kafue Flats,Zambia

Abstract

The paper describes the use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of remote sensing images as a method of change detection for the Kafue Flats, an inland wetland system in southern Zambia. The wetland is under human and natural pressures but is also an important wildlife habitat. A combination of Landsat MSS and TM images were used. The images used were from 24 September 1984 (MSS), 3 September 1988 (MSS), 12 September 1991 (TM) and 20 September 1994 (TM). They were geometrically co‐registered and, in the process, the 80m resolution MSS images were resampled to 30m using nearest neighbour resampling. Preliminary PCA revealed that for the MSS images most of the data variance was in near infrared reflectance while for the TM images it was in mid and thermal infrared bands. Holding sensor type constant, separate inter‐band correlation analysis for each image could indicate whether the wetland was drier or wetter on one date versus another. The 1994 image was made the reference image and equivalent green, red and near infrared bands from the other images were radiometrically normalised with those on the reference image. All the bands, three from each date, were then merged into a twelve‐band image on which PCA for change detection was undertaken. A colour composite of eigen images from the resulting principal components was used in change detection. Hydrological data, indicating long‐term reduced inflow of water into the wetland due to human regulation, help explain some of the wetland change detected. Compared to a classification comparison approach to change detection for this area, PCA was found to be very useful in indicating where change had occurred, though interpretation of the changes was difficult without reference to the input images. The methodology appears to have potential use in habitat monitoring for this wetland area.     

Applicability of Landsat 8 data for characterizing glacier facies and supraglacial debris

The present work evaluates the applicability of operational land imager (OLI) and thermal infrared sensor (TIRS) on-board Landsat 8 satellite. We demonstrate an algorithm for automated mapping of glacier facies and supraglacial debris using data collected in blue, near infrared (NIR), short wave infrared (SWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) bands. The reflectance properties in visible and NIR regions of OLI for various glacier facies are in contrast with those in SWIR region. Based on the premise that different surface types (snow, ice and debris) of a glacier should show distinct thermal regimes, the ‘at-satellite brightness temperature’ obtained using TIRS was used as a base layer for developing the algorithm. This base layer was enhanced and modified using contrasting reflectance properties of OLI bands. In addition to facies and debris cover characterization, another interesting outcome of this algorithm was extraction of crevasses on the glacier surface which were distinctly visible in output and classified images. The validity of this algorithm was checked using field data along a transect of the glacier acquired during the satellite pass over the study area. With slight scene-dependent threshold adjustments, this work can be replicated for mapping glacier facies and supraglacial debris in any alpine valley glacier.     

Morphology and evolution of an alluvial fan-a case study of Kalanutala,Prakasam district,A.P.

Alluvial fans are the dominant landforms of the semi-aird and arid environments of the world. Studies on alluvial fans elsewhere suggest that there is a close relationship between the morphology of the fan and the drainage basin area; lithology, mean slope, vegetation, climatic and tectonic environments of the source area. An alluvial fan at Kalanutala village, in Prakasam district of Anthra Pradesh, has been studied in detail in order to analyse it's morphology and arrive at its geomorphic evolution. From a study of fan morphology and it's composition, it has been arrived, at the conclusion that there is a relationship between the fan and it's drainage basin (Kompayasela). Further, this study reveals that the apparent segmentation of the fan is not because of tectonic movement but due to the underlying topography of pediment. The study of fan morphology and its materials suggests that the initial deposition of fan took place in a humid climate, but gradually changed to the present arid climate.     

Airborne SAR and Landsat MSS as complementary information source for geological hazard mapping

A comparative study has been made of the usefulness of Landsat and airborne radar images. The study area is situated in the Middle Magdalena Valley of Colombia. It consists of a folded sedimentary sequence of Upper Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary rocks, partially covered by extensive volcanic lahar and alluvial fan material.To obtain the full benefit of the spectral information from Landsat and the textual and pattern information from radar, a combined image was produced using the hue and saturation information from Landsat data and the intensity values from radar data.A clear differentiation between old lahar deposits and the recent one caused by the Nevada del Ruiz eruption of 1985 was possible on SAR images. The synergistic radar imagery, particularly used in stereo, is very useful for prediction of future lahar routes and volcanic risk evaluation.     

中国小比例尺卫星影象地图的设计与制作

利用数字化的NOAA AVHRR数据进行小比例尺、准同步宏观制图是一种低成本和快速的制图方法。笔者应用本文方法制作了第一幅小比例尺的、完整的中国假彩色卫星影象地图。它包含了全部的南中国海,这是使用其他的遥感数据(如陆地卫星或SPOT卫星)难以做到的。该图采用了热红外、近红外和可见光的红波段所构成的假彩色合成方案,提供了丰富的色彩和影象信息。本图制作时实施的数据处理内容包括:地图投影变换、影象反差增强和锐化、彩色平衡调整、去云处理和海陆分离处理、利用植被指数原理的影象时相修正和数字镶嵌操作等。根据影象地图的载负量和视觉效果,图上精心选取并设计了地理要素、地图符号和注记。该图是应用遥感新技术开发的地图新产品,被十七届国际摄影测量与遥感会议选为展示成果,并被该会评为获奖成果。     

Characterization of defoliation conditions within a boreal Montane forest ecosystem

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) digital data acquired in the fall of 1988 and digital elevation model (DEM) data were evaluated for use in characterizing the spatial distribution of defoliation conditions within the boreal montane spruce‐fir ecosystem in the Black Mountains (Mtns.) of North Carolina. Correlation coefficients between the TM waveband data and field estimates of defoliation taken from 22 one hectare field plots were low (0.10 to ‐0.54). TM band four (near infrared) was the only waveband found to be significantly correlated with needle loss. Defoliation was also shown to be significantly correlated with digital elevation and aspect data. A multivariate linear regression model predicting percent defoliation was developed from the TM, elevation, and aspect data for the 21 field plots. In addition to having a high R2(0.85) the model was shown to reliably predict defoliation conditions throughout the ecosystem. A color‐coded classified image depicting the spatial distribution of defoliation conditions within the study site was generated by applying the model to the TM and DEM data.     

Land cover mapping at Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero,White Sands,New Mexico,USA using multi-temporal and multi-spectral remote sensing data

The goal of this research is to map land cover patterns and to detect changes that occurred at Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero, White Sands using multispectral Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Advanced Land Imager (ALI), and hyperspectral Hyperion and Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data. The other objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the information dimensionality limits of Landsat 7 ETM+, ASTER, ALI, Hyperion, and AVIRIS data with respect to signal-to-noise and spectral resolution, (2) to determine the spatial distribution and fractional abundances of land cover endmembers, and (3) to check ground correspondence with satellite data. A better understanding of the spatial and spectral resolution of these sensors, optimum spectral bands and their information contents, appropriate image processing methods, spectral signatures of land cover classes, and atmospheric effects are needed to our ability to detect and map minerals from space. Image spectra were validated using samples collected from various localities across Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero. These samples were measured in the laboratory using VNIR–SWIR (0.4–2.5 μm) spectra and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) method. Dry gypsum deposits, wet gypsum deposits, standing water, green vegetation, and clastic alluvial sediments dominated by mixtures of ferric iron (ferricrete) and calcite were identified in the study area using Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF), Pixel Purity Index (PPI), and n-D Visualization. The results of MNF confirm that AVIRIS and Hyperion data have higher information dimensionality thresholds exceeding the number of available bands of Landsat 7 ETM+, ASTER, and ALI data. ASTER and ALI data can be a reasonable alternative to AVIRIS and Hyperion data for the purpose of monitoring land cover, hydrology and sedimentation in the basin. The spectral unmixing analysis and dimensionality eigen analysis between the various datasets helped to uncover the most optimum spatial–spectral–temporal and radiometric-resolution sensor characteristics for remote sensing based on monitoring of seasonal land cover, surface water, groundwater, and alluvial sediment input changes within the basin. The results demonstrated good agreement between ground truth data and XRD analysis of samples, and the results of Matched Filtering (MF) mapping method.     

Evaluation of Landsat TM data for forest cover type and landuse classification in subtropical forests of Kumaon Himalaya (U.P.)

LANDSAT-TM has been evaluated for forest cover type and landuse classification in subtropical forests of Kumaon Himalaya (U.P.) Comparative evaluation of false colour composite generated by using various band combinations has been made. Digital image processing of Landsat-TM data on VIPS-32 RRSSC computer system has been carried out to stratify vegetation types. Conventional band combination in false colour composite is Bands 2, 3 and 4 in Red/Green/Blue sequence of Landsat TM for landuse classification. The present study however suggests that false colour combination using Landsat TM bands viz., 4, 5 and 3 in Red/Green/Blue sequence is the most suitable for visual interpretation of various forest cover types and landuse classes. It is felt that to extract full information from increased spatial and spectral resolution of Landsat TM, it is necessary to process the data digitally to classify land cover features like vegetation. Supervised classification using maximum likelihood algorithm has been attemped to stratify the forest vegetation. Only four bands are sufficient enough to classify vegetaton types. These bands are 2,3,4 and 5. The classification results were smoothed digitaly to increase the readiability of the map. Finally, the classification carred out using digital technique were evaluated using systematic sampling design. It is observed that forest cover type mapping can be achieved upto 80% overall mapping accuracy. Monospecies stand Chirpine can be mapped in two density classes viz., dense pine (<40%) with more than 90% accuracy. Poor accuracy (66%) was observed while mapping pine medium dense areas. The digital smoothening reduced the overall mapping accuracy. Conclusively, Landsat-TM can be used as operatonal sensor for forest cover type mapping even in complex landuse-terrain of Kumaon Himalaya (U.P.)     

Sentinel-2A与Landsat 8O LI逐像元辐射归一化方法研究

考虑不同传感器光谱响应函数差异及不同地物类型反射率光谱的差异,提出了一种逐像元辐射归一化方法,并以2017年7月17日内蒙古达里诺尔湖地区准同步过境的Sentinel-2A及Landsat 8数据为例,对两类数据可见-近红外波段（VNIR）地表反射率结果进行归一化。首先采用Sen2cor方法及NASA官方提供大气校正算法,分别对Sentinel-2A及Landsat 8 OLI影像进行大气校正并重采样到同一空间分辨率;然后基于光谱库计算匹配因子并构建图像与光谱库之间的匹配转换模型,实现像元尺度上从Sentinel-2影像到Landsat 8影像地表反射率相似波段之间的转换。结果表明,经逐像元归一化的影像相比原始影像及经HLS光谱归一化的影像,与Landsat 8 VNIR波段的相关性明显提高,辐射一致性增强。该转换模型为多源中高分辨率遥感图像高精度辐射归一化提供了新思路。     

Detection and mapping the spatial distribution of bracken fern weeds using the Landsat 8 OLI new generation sensor

Bracken fern is an invasive plant that presents serious environmental, ecological and economic problems around the world. An understanding of the spatial distribution of bracken fern weeds is therefore essential for providing appropriate management strategies at both local and regional scales. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of the freely available medium resolution Landsat 8 OLI sensor in the detection and mapping of bracken fern at the Cathedral Peak, South Africa. To achieve this objective, the results obtained from Landsat 8 OLI were compared with those derived using the costly, high spatial resolution WorldView-2 imagery. Since previous studies have already successfully mapped bracken fern using high spatial resolution WorldView-2 image, the comparison was done to investigate the magnitude of difference in accuracy between the two sensors in relation to their acquisition costs. To evaluate the performance of Landsat 8 OLI in discriminating bracken fern compared to that of Worldview-2, we tested the utility of (i) spectral bands; (ii) derived vegetation indices as well as (iii) the combination of spectral bands and vegetation indices based on discriminant analysis classification algorithm. After resampling the training and testing data and reclassifying several times (n = 100) based on the combined data sets, the overall accuracies for both Landsat 8 and WorldView-2 were tested for significant differences based on Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed that the integration of the spectral bands and derived vegetation indices yielded the best overall classification accuracy (80.08% and 87.80% for Landsat 8 OLI and WorldView-2 respectively). Additionally, the use of derived vegetation indices as a standalone data set produced the weakest overall accuracy results of 62.14% and 82.11% for both the Landsat 8 OLI and WorldView-2 images. There were significant differences {U (100) = 569.5, z = −10.8242, p < 0.01} between the classification accuracies derived based on Landsat OLI 8 and those derived using WorldView-2 sensor. Although there were significant differences between Landsat and WorldView-2 accuracies, the magnitude of variation (9%) between the two sensors was within an acceptable range. Therefore, the findings of this study demonstrated that the recently launched Landsat 8 OLI multispectral sensor provides valuable information that could aid in the long term continuous monitoring and formulation of effective bracken fern management with acceptable accuracies that are comparable to those obtained from the high resolution WorldView-2 commercial sensor.     

Ann Based Robust LULC Classification Technique Using Spectral, Texture and Elevation Data

Albeit the advent of fast computing facilities, digital image classification of remotely sensed data is still remain the topic of research. This might be due to the reason that the ancillary information such as texture and topography is absent in image classification. Since two decades, texture is widely applied in image classification but there is no explicit icon in most popularly used remote sensing software. Hence the aim of this study is to classify the Landsat ETM+ captured in 2000 using spectral information, topographic information and texture information. This study helps to throw light into statistical texture analysis i.e., the effect window size i.e., 3?×?3 to 9?×?9, on image classification. The ability of Grey Run Length Matrix (GRLM), which is computationally complex compared to industrially well-known Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) but encompasses greater potential to discriminate between two classes, is explored. Eight spectral bands, 11 texture parameters extracted from Landsat ETM+ data and elevation, slope, aspect extracted from DEM data are classified individually using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and the individually classified information is integrated using endorsement theory. Validations of classified results are performed using Google Maps and Landmap services updated in 2009. The results are compared with Maximum Likelihood classification (MLC) and hence all the evidence (spectral, texture and topography) with 5?×?5 texture window provided maximum classification accuracy of 70.44 %.     

Mapping forest leaf area index using reflectance and textural information derived from WorldView-2 imagery in a mixed natural forest area in Florida,US

The leaf area index (LAI) of plant canopies is an important structural parameter that controls energy, water, and gas exchanges of plant ecosystems. Remote sensing techniques may offer an alternative for measuring and mapping forest LAI at a landscape scale. Given the characteristics of high spatial/spectral resolution of the WorldView-2 (WV2) sensor, it is of significance that the textural information extracted from WV2 multispectral (MS) bands will be first time used in estimating and mapping forest LAI. In this study, LAI mapping accuracies would be compared from (a) spatial resolutions between 2-m WV2 MS data and 30-m Landsat TM imagery, (b) the nature of variables between spectrum-based features and texture-based features, and (c) sensors between TM and WV2. Therefore spectral/textural features (SFs) were first selected and tested; then a canonical correlation analysis was performed with different data sets of SFs and LAI measurement; and finally linear regression models were used to predict and map forest LAI with canonical variables calculated from image data. The experimental results demonstrate that for estimating and mapping forest LAI, (i) using high resolution data (WV2) is better than using relatively low resolution data (TM); (ii) extracted from the same WV2 data, texture-based features have higher capability than that of spectrum-based features; (iii) a combination of spectrum-based features with texture-based features could lead to even higher accuracy of mapping forest LAI than their either one separately; and (iv) WV2 sensor outperforms TM sensor significantly. However, we need to address the possible overfitting phenomenon that might be brought in by using more input variables to develop models. In addition, the experimental results also indicate that the red-edge band in WV2 was the worst on estimating LAI among WV2 MS bands and the WV2 MS bands in the visible range had a much higher correlation with ground measured LAI than that red-edge and NIR bands did.     

Landsat image enhancement and analysis approach for geological studies of central part of Goa,India

With the advent of multispectral scanners and the availability of digital data, information extraction through remote sensing has become one of the viable tools for studying natural resources. Normally thick vegetation and soil cover are common obstacles while geologically studying an area remotely. The study area, Goa, is largely covered by settlements, private mines, and dense vegetation. This makes it difficult to decipher lithology, structures and to find their extension by ground surveying. In this paper, an attempt has been made to study a variety of image enhancement and analysis techniques to delineate geological features, lineaments, and several landuse features. The information gathered from land use features and vegetation cover is also utilized in delineating lithology and lineaments. Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) data both in the visual and digital form have been used for the analysis. Various photographic techniques such as Bas-relief, combined printing of positive and negative for different bands, color composites, and digital image processing techniques like ratioing, principal component analysis and ratioing of the first two principal components have been applied for geological information extraction. This paper examines comparative utility of enhancement techniques in studying geological aspects. It is found that the ratio image of PCI and PC2 gives most significant and detailed information with maximum contrast and sharp boundaries. Bas-relief images are excellent for identifying geomorphic features and lineaments.     

Assessing the potential of integrated Landsat 8 thermal bands,with the traditional reflective bands and derived vegetation indices in classifying urban landscapes

Reliable and up-to-date urban land cover information is valuable in urban planning and policy development. Due to the increasing demand for reliable land cover information there has been a growing need for robust methods and datasets to improve the classification accuracy from remotely sensed imagery. This study sought to assess the potential of the newly launched Landsat 8 sensor’s thermal bands and derived vegetation indices in improving land cover classification in a complex urban landscape using the support vector machine classifier. This study compared the individual and combined performance of Landsat 8’s reflective, thermal bands and vegetation indices in classifying urban land use-land cover. The integration of Landsat 8 reflective bands, derived vegetation indices and thermal bands overall produced significantly higher accuracy classification results than using traditional bands as standalone (i.e. overall, user and producer accuracies). An overall accuracy above 89.33% and a kappa index of 0.86, significantly higher than the one obtained with the use of the traditional reflective bands as a standalone data-set and other analysis stages. On average, the results also indicate high producer and user accuracies (i.e. above 80%) for most of the classes with a McNemar’s Z score of 9.00 at 95% confidence interval showing significant improvement compared with classification using reflective bands as standalone. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the integration of the Landsat 8’s OLI and TIR data presents an invaluable potential for accurate and robust land cover classification in a complex urban landscape, especially in areas where the availability of high resolution datasets remains a challenge.     

利用 Landsat 8影像制作解译样本点辅助高分影像分类可行性的研究

地理国情普查项目使用的高分影像质量的良莠不齐给地表覆盖数据生产带来了巨大障碍。本文剖析了目前收集到的高分影像资料的主要缺陷,如多分辨率、多传感器、多年份和跨季节,给地表覆盖数据解译带来极大的局限性;阐述了Landsat 8影像自身的特点,如像幅面积大、获取周期短、波段信息丰富,同时提出利用Landsat 8影像辅助解译的思路,并通过试验验证这种方法的可行性。     

Multi-sensor Space-Borne Earth Observation Data for Characterizing Fluvial-Geomorphic Provinces: A Case Study from Kosi River,India

The dynamism of geomorphic provinces in fluvial systems present considerable ambiguities in mapping by remote sensing. This necessitates use of multiple satellite data to characterize such depositional provinces. We use, an integrated dataset to characterize the geomorphic provinces (e.g. active flood plain, older food plain, fan etc.) of the Kosi River (Bihar), India. This is done using contrast in spectral signatures derived from multispectral bands (of IRS-P6 LISS III), radiant temperature (from ETM+) and radar-roughness (from radar brightness image RISAT-1). ASTER DEM has been used in deriving topographic profiles. The optical imagery, enables regional characterization through direct tonal changes (e.g. active flood plain is brighter than older flood plain). The radiant temperatures show variations across provinces. Geomorphic transitions are represented by topographic breaks. Radar backscatter imagery, show differences in radar-return from different sub-provinces. Observations made using specific sensor characterize each provinces and is supplementary/complimentary to the parameter(s) from other sensors.