Software for validating parameters retrieved from satellite

A PC-based interactive software has been developed and presented here for validating geophysical data retrieved from satellite mounted sensors operating in visible, infrared and microwave frequencies. The program, coded in Visual Basic, is user interactive and runs on Windows-98 or higher platforms. The system prepares the database on a pre-selected Microsoft platform to enhance processing efficiency. Sub-setting option is also provided to reduce the processing time. Data retrieved from ‘Multi-channel Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR) onboard the Indian satellites Oceansat-1 during 1999–2001 were validated using this software as a case study. The program has several added advantages over the conventional method of validation that involves strenuous efforts to incorporate subroutines to meet every minute requirement. Satellite-sea truth relationships on various space-time window combinations are determined and exhibited in matrix form to visualize the nature of correlation. User has the option to visualize the satellite-sea truth relationship through graphical representations before selecting optimum relationship for prediction.     

Remote sensing study of granulitic terrain in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan

The geology of northwestern part of Indian peninsula is considered to be important due to complete preservation of rocks from Archaean to Upper Proterozoic. Further, these rocks have served as ideal host of varieties of economic minerals. The present work is an attempt to study the structurally deformed granulitic terrain in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan in light of remote sensing. The study area falls under Sirohi, Banas Kantha and Sabar Kantha districts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Remote sensing technique is utilized for the understanding of structural geology and deciphering the shear pattern. The methods adopted in this study include generation of False Color Composite (FCC) of satellite data, interpretation of lineaments from FCC and study the drainage pattern, structural basin delineation, profiling, and field mapping. It is observed that the area has undergone extensive deformation. There are two major sets of lineaments interpreted in the granulitic terrain such as WNW-ESE and NE-SW directions. Majority of the WNW-ESE lineaments are brittle in nature and N-S, NE-SW trending lineaments are ductile in nature. Overall the study area bifurcated into seven structural basins comprises of basic granulites, calc granulites and pelitic granulites.     

A community-based urban forest inventory using online mapping services and consumer-grade digital images

Community involvement in gathering and submitting spatially referenced data via web mapping applications has recently been gaining momentum. Urban forest inventory data analyzed by programs such as the i-Tree ECO inventory method is a good candidate for such an approach. In this research, we tested the feasibility of using spatially referenced data gathered and submitted by non-professional individuals through a web application to augment urban forest inventory data. We examined the use of close range photogrammetry solutions of images taken by consumer-grade cameras to extract quantitative metric information such as crown diameter, tree heights and trunk diameters. Several tests were performed to evaluate the accuracy of the photogrammetric solutions and to examine their use in addition to existing aerial image data to supplement or partially substitute for standard i-Tree ECO field measurements.     

Assessment of coastal bio-resources of the Palk Bay,India, using IRS-LISS-III data

Coastal resources viz., coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, and coastal land features viz., sandy beach, mudflats and salt pan/aquaculture ponds were classified and assessed in the Palk Bay region of the south-east coast of India using IRS LISS III satellite image (1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004). The study recorded an areal coverage of 286.95 ha of reef area during 2004, which is 177.54 ha lesser than that of the reef area of 1996. The reef vegetation composed mainly of seaweeds has gained over 29.44 ha during the same period. Likewise, sand over reef area has also increased alarmingly i.e. 120.34 ha between 1996 and 2004. The seagrass beds of Munaikkadu region of the Palk Bay are comparatively protected and have gained over 7.5 ha between 1996 and 2004. It has been found that both the dense (2.99 ha) and sparse (36.45 ha) mangroves have gained their areal coverage considerably between 1996 and 2004. Whereas in Devipattinam region, many anthropogenic pressures are exerted only on the seagrass resources which has led to the reduction of over 785.5 ha of dense seagrass beds between 1996 and 2004. The study clearly indicated that the resources are under the pressures of low to high threats, especially the coral reefs and seagrasses, if the pressures continue, coastal resources of the Palk Bay may face serious threats of destruction in this part of the Bay in the years to come.     

Peculiarities of surface air temperature variations over the Far East regions in 1976–2005

Peculiarities are investigated of the air temperature variation tendencies at some stations of the Far East in 1976–2005. The estimate of linear trend equation coefficients is computed according to the air temperature observation data using the least squares method. It is demonstrated that the air temperature trend in northern regions possesses a small probability at small values of residual variability. In the southern regions, the trend significance increases for almost all seasons at small values of residual variability. At midlatitude stations, the trend significance in January and February decreases considerably due to the large values of residual variability.     

Spatial process and data models: Toward integration of agent-based models and GIS

The use of object-orientation for both spatial data and spatial process models facilitates their integration, which can allow exploration and explanation of spatial-temporal phenomena. In order to better understand how tight coupling might proceed and to evaluate the possible functional and efficiency gains from such a tight coupling, we identify four key relationships affecting how geographic data (fields and objects) and agent-based process models can interact: identity, causal, temporal and topological. We discuss approaches to implementing tight integration, focusing on a middleware approach that links existing GIS and ABM development platforms, and illustrate the need and approaches with example agent-based models.