SELECTION OF AN OPTIMAL ALGORITHM FOR RECOGNITION OF NATURAL FEATURES

Two widely used Soviet algorithms for the classification of hydromete-orological features are compared for the purposes of mapping water temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, transparency/turbidity, dissolved surface concentration of chemical elements, depth, etc. The KLASS algorithm, using a solution to the “traveling salesman” problem for classifying objects in feature space, produced higher intra-class proximity and greater inter-class “distances” than the KSS algorithm, based on optimizing “shortest-path” criteria. This was determined through the use of five similar measures of recognition quality. Translated from: Vestnik Leningrad-skogo Universiteta, 1985, No. 14, pp. 95-100.     

TOPOLOGY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF CARTOGRAPHIC IMAGES

A survey of the use of topologic concepts of space in map transofrmation supports the author's contention that so-called “transformed images” represent for the most part rather arbitrary distortions of conventional maps constructed in Euclidean space. This paper demonstrates how truly topologic images can be created “from scratch,” i.e., without manipulation of either the sizes or shapes of areal units on preexisting maps. Images created by quantitatively defining “graphic ratios” of areal units can thus be replicated by other cartographers with a minimum of subjectivity. Translated from: Geodeziya i kartografiya, 1984, No. 12, pp. 28-31.     

THE CONCEPT OF SPACE AND ITS PRESENTATION ON MAPS: THEORETICAL ASPECTS

The author defines cartographic space, i.e., the space encompassed by geographic maps, as the entire “geographic” envelope. Maps as spatial models of the concrete three-dimensional space of this envelope [increasingly this space is viewed as four-dimensional, when the element of time is included] depict geosystems of various levels and complexity and serve as an essential basis for analyzing their properties, internal processes, and relationships. The author argues against divorcing the study of cartographic space from an understanding of the content of the objects being mapped, and critically evaluates positions of other Soviet and East European cartographers on the “dual role” of the cartographic space of maps. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1986, No. 2, pp. 3-9.     

REMOTE SENSING IN PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF CARTOGRAPHER-GEOGRAPHERS

The author reviews the contributions of the “aerospace” disciplines (remote sensing, photogrammetry, photometry) in the training of cartographers at Moscow University. Changes in the present curriculum are advocated, leading to the emergence of a unified educational discipline referred to alternately as “remote mapping methods,” or “remote sensing and mapping.” Training in this discipline is designed to enhance the interpretation and map compilation skills of cartographers working with space imagery. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1984, No. 5, pp. 40-43.     

MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF LENINGRAD ON THE SURROUNDING AREA

The author, a remote sensing specialist in Leningrad University's Department of Atmospheric Physics, describes the use of space imagery in a program for monitoring the city's impacts on the surrounding environment. The paper examines applications of LANDSAT and “Meteor” satellite imagery and “Soyuz-22” space photography in the study of industrial smoke plumes, jet contrails, atmospheric haze, albedo, the urban heat island, urban sprawl (including nighttime imagery), fallout of suspended particulates, and wastewater discharges into the Gulf of Finland. Translated from: Grigor'yev, A. A. Antropogennyye vozdeystviya na prirodnuyu sredy po nablyudeniyam iz kosmosa [Human Impacts on the Environment From Observations From Space]. Leningrad: Nauka, 1985, pp. 129-141 [Chapter 7].     

DYNAMIC AEROSPACE MAPPING: CONTENT,PROBLEMS, AND APPLICATIONS

This paper examines the use of remote sensing imagery in the study of temporal environmental change, the author outlining the principles and methods of what is proposed here as a distinct subfield of “dynamic remote sensing.” Particular emphasis is placed on the use of “multitemporal” space imagery, either actual temporal composites or a series of individual heterochronous images arranged side-by-side to facilitate comparison, in the study of meteorology, oceanography, geomorphology, and hydrology. Applications of dynamic remote sensing are less widespread in socioeconomic disciplines. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1985, No. 4, pp. 7-13.     

RADIO-TELEVISION COMPLEXES OF THE METEOR-PRIRODA SATELLITES

A second installment in a series of papers describing the technical basis for Soviet remote sensing from space focuses on the multispectral scanners of the “Meteor-Priroda” series of earth observation satellites. Designs of the various models are provided, as well as explanations of how such tasks as band separation, signal formation, and telemetry are performed. Translated from: Priroda Zemli iz kosmosa, A. P. Tishchenko and S. V. Viktorov, eds. Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 1984, pp. 25-25-34.     

REMOTE SENSING RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY AT MOSCOW UNIVERSITY

A paper describing activities of the Laboratory of Remote Sensing Methods at Moscow University presents a chronology of the Laboratory's efforts to improve sensor capabilities for acquiring remote sensing data and to develop more effective image processing techniques. Among the accomplishments cited are early advances in sensor system design and photochemical processing in conjunction with “Salyut” orbital station activities, multispectral imaging experiments in conjunction with high-resolution space photography from the Soyuz-12 (1973) and Soyuz-22 (1976) missions, testing of the first high-resolution Soviet (“Fragment”) scanner imagery (1984), and ongoing work in digital and applied image processing. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovsskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1987, No. 2, pp. 27-31.     

LANDSCAPE-FUNCTIONAL MAPS IN THE STUDY OF URBAN GEOCHEMICAL ANOMALIES

A method is proposed for the use of large-scale “landscape-functional” maps (depicting interrelationships between landscape structure, land use, and environmental impacts) in the identification and explanation of geochemical anomalies within urbanized areas. Landscape-functional complexes or basic elementary landscapes located within different zones of human activity, serve as the basic units of mapping. An excerpt from a landscape-functional map of an unnamed mining-metallurgical center in a semi-arid mountain basin environment is provided as an illustration of how such maps reveal spatial associations between trace-element concentrations in soil, snow, and stream bottom sediments; location in respect to major pollution sources (proximity, upslope or downslope position, leeward or windward orientation); and frequency and intensity of trace-element transport (mass movements, stream and overland flow, prevailing winds). Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universitete, geografiya, 1986, No. 5, pp. 88-94.     

THE POTENTIAL OF NIGHTTIME SPACE IMAGERY IN ANALYSIS AND MAPPING OF URBAN SETTLEMENT

A procedure is described for the use of nighttime space imagery in the mapping of an urban settlement hierarchy in the Federal Republic of Germany. City “brightness” values provide surrogate measures of urban settlement density, which are then mapped isarithmically. The resulting statistical surface is then divided into regions (first- and second-order settlement systems), and the map compared with one produced by quantitative (cluster analysis) techniques. The two regionalization schemes produce remarkably similar results, although the map compiled from the space image contained a greater number of regions, and was more detailed in other ways. Translated from: Vestnik Leningradskogo Universiteta, seriya geografiches-kaya, 1984, No. 6, pp. 112-114.     

USE OF SPACE IMAGERY IN THE STUDY OF MASS EXCHANGE IN GLACIER SYSTEMS

The author surveys the use of remote sensing imagery in the study of mass exchange in glaciers, i.e., glacier dynamics resulting from phase changes in the water which they contain. A program of research now underway at the Institute of Geography (USSR Academy of Sciences) in conjunction with the “Priroda” Remote Sensing Center (Moscow) focuses on improving methods of data collection and mapping of glacier dynamics from space imagery, and particularly on identifying natural glacioclimatic zones believed to represent specific mass exchange conditions or regimes. The boundary of glacier nourishment separating areas of accumulation and ablation represents a key glacioclimatic indicator of mass exchange on satellite imagery and aerial photography. Translated from: Geodeziya i kartografiya, 1986, No. 5, pp. 26–31.     

THE METEOR AND METEOR-PRIRODA EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITES

This first installment in a series of papers extracted from a Soviet “manual” of remote sensing describes the design, operation, and payloads of the “Meteor” and “Meteor-Priroda” earth observation satellites-the latter as name given to “Meteor” satellites used for economic land-use studies, instead of their original meteorological applications. Issues such as orbit parameters, spatial resolution, scan width, and telemetry are also addressed. Translated from: Priroda Zemli iz kosmosa, A.P. Tishchenko and S.V. Viktorov, eds. Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat, 1984, pp. 16-24.     

AUTOMATED TEXTURE ANALYSIS ON LANDSCAPE MAPS

A procedure for formalizing and classifying the textures created by various geographic features on maps is outlined with the objective of providing a mathematical basis for their analysis by computer. The topological digital modeling of “geotextures” is based on the identification of mathematical sets (matrices) describing the content (either nominally or ordinally scaled) and distribution (either discrete or continuous) of elements comprising a particular texture. Several examples of such models are presented in detail for both discrete and continuous areal data and are compared in terms of their space requirements in the random access memory of a computer. Translated from: Geografiyo i prirodnyye resursy, 1986, No. 4, pp. 121-129.     

MAPPING STATISTICAL SURFACES IN SPATIAL ANALYSIS: THE EXAMPLE OF WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Methods of the compilation and manipulation of statistical surfaces are described in the production of summary maps of water availability. Isopleth maps of water supply (hydrographic potential) and water consumption are compared through the superimposition of their statistical surfaces. A derivative statistical surface is then created which, depending upon the method of transformation employed, depicts either the magnitude of “free” (unused) water resources or the relative completeness (extent) of their utilization. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, geografiya, 1988, No. 2, pp. 64-68 by Natalia B. Barbash, Brooklyn, New York, 11209.     

INTERPRETATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE WITH SPACE IMAGERY

Heterochronous multispectral imagery from the “Fragment” scanner is used to identify and map a series of “natural-agricultural complexes,” or agricultural landscapes, of southern European Russia. Interpretation is based on imagery in the green, orange, red, and near-infrared zones of the spectrum (0.5-1.1 μm). Interpretation keys and other information designed to facilitate feature discrimination (optimal wavelengths, best seasons for imagining) are provided in many instances. Natural landscape and soil erosion maps are also compiled from the imagery, which supply information (an optimal crop rotation scheme and needed reclamation measures) used on the agricultural landscape map. Translated from: Vestnik Moskovs-kogo Unlversiteta, geografiya, 1985, No. 2, pp. 34-41.     

NEW IDEAS IN A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH TO IMAGE PROCESSING

The authors present a statistical approach for multi-band image processing based on “synthesizing” processing methods, i.e., methods which transform N original band-specific images into a smaller number of (synthetic) image products. Such techniques are increasingly replacing “one-dimensional” methods (one-to-one correspondence between number of original and processed images) because of the normally greater informational content and enhanced feature discrimination capability afforded by composite image products. The ultimate objective is development of a complex of image processing strategies balancing user demands for information quantity, image diversity, and efficient use of computer time. Translated from: Metody kompleksnykh aerokosmicheskikh issledovaniy Sibiri, L. K. Zyat'kova, ed. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1985, pp. 84-87.     

THE MAPPING AND STUDY OF THE ISSYK-KUL' SHORELINE WITH AIR PHOTOS

Efforts to monitor and map the changing water level and shoreline of a large mountain lake in Central Asia with aerial photographs are described. The essence of the work involved the mapping of the shoreline and position of river deltas from air photos from various years during the period 1949-1980, at uniform scale and at a level of accuracy permitting the quantitative (cartometric) as well as qualitative assessment of change. The sequence of work in compilation of map-diagrams for different parts of the shoreline involved the preliminary referencing of photos to a map, photo interpretation and compilation of large-scale “graphic diagrams,” preparation of a cartographic base, reduction and placement of diagrams on the base, and transformation of the image as a whole. Results of analysis of these map-diagrams are summarized. Translated from: Vestnik Leningradskogo Universiteta, ser. 7: geologiya, geografiya, 1986, No. 2, pp. 44-48.     

SOIL-GEOBOTANICAL REGIONALIZATION FROM REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY

A multiscalar approach to mapping soil-vegetation regions from remote sensing imagery is outlined, using the West Siberian Lowland as a study area. At an initial stage small-scale space imagery is used to identify extensive soil-vegetation regions which extend across nearly the entire Lowland. Subsequent analysis focuses on identification and mapping of increasingly smaller units. The dominant criteria used for image interpretation and regionalization vary at each particular level of analysis, changing from vegetation structure and density at the smallest scales to soil “hydromorphism” (waterlogging) and topographic affiliations for intermediate- and large-scale units. Hydromorphic indicators are stressed as most important overall. Translated from: Distantsionnyye issledovaniya rel'yefa Sibiri, A. L. Yanshin and V. N. Sharapov, eds. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1985, pp. 51-58.     

A TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION OF THE SPHEROID ALTERNATIVE TO THE GAUSS-KRÜGER FORM

Abstract

The excuse for yet another paper on the Transverse Mercator projection, which has already received what should be more than its fair share of space in this Review, can only be that there is a fresh viewpoint to offer. It is the purpose of this paper to show that there are, in fact, two “Transverse Mercator” projections of the spheroid, of which one has hitherto almost escaped notice.     

SURVEYING ON LAKE RUDOLF

Abstract

The “Cambridge Expedition to the East African Lakes” reached the shores of Lake Rudolf in March 1931, and spent two months making a survey in several branches of science. The main object was biological—that is, the collection of land and water fauna and flora; but to create a background for this study the personnel of the expedition was made up of a chemist, zoologist, geologist, and geographer. In setting about work of this sort in a region practically unknown and scientifically unexplored the first necessity is a map of the part to be worked. Collections cannot be made at random from any part of the shore-line; one region must be chosen as exemplifying one type, and that region must be worked in detail. Positions of the collecting grounds have to be marked on a largescale map, so that the correlation of types can be worked systematically from end to end of the chosen area. Water-soundings are a necessary preliminary to the study of aquatic contents, and these can only be inserted correctly on a new and detailed map; in this part of the world the shore-line changes are very rapid, being due partly to the effect of a persistently large swell (raised by the southeast trades) on a sandy shore and partly to the lowering of the water-level by intense evaporation.