| Abstract: | Four SPOT images, one panchromatic and three multispectral, were studied to evaluate their usefulness for hydrological mapping in an arid environment. Simple visual methods of interpretation were used to plot the drainage network independently from each test image. The results were compared with the drainage network shown on the topographic map of the area. Results show that with the panchromatic image, over 90 per cent of the map content could be discerned, identified, and plotted. The accuracy of plotting the drainage system from the multispectral images seems to depend on the season in which data had been acquired. However, in all cases, the success rate is not less than 70 per cent. Comparison with Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery showed that SPOT system is superior in hydrological mapping. |
