Module 5-LIDAR

LIDAR-Interpretation-Pensacola Beach, FL

This weeks Module is on LIDAR.  The challenge assignment was to take the raw LIDAR data and produce a map using the IDW tool in ArcMap.  After manipulating the image, the assignment was to identify a road, sand dune and water feature.  This seemed straight forward as one could key on the relative elevations and the somewhat straight line for the road.  I'm sure there is more to LIDAR interpretation, but this was a basic start.

Module 4-Supervised Classification

Supervised Classification of Germantown, Maryland

This week's Module consisted of classifying land cover types in Germantown, Maryland.  This was done through a supervised classification method utilizing ERDAS software.  The project was mostly straightforward but I did have to work through the signature classes a few times to make sure I didn't have any dissimilar land cover types.  Overall this seems like a really a very necessary set of skills to know for a Remote Sensing specialist.  The biggest frustrations came with the system crashing multiple times in the exercise and assignment, but in the end I believe it came together.

Link to XPS drawing:

XPS Drawing

Module 3-Orthorectification

Rectify Image of Pensacola Bay

This lab was educational and it was relatively easy to understand the concepts as the lab instructions were quite helpful.  The items that took the most time were the continual crashing of the system, playing with the RMS values for the Ground Control Points (GCP's) and trying to get the resolution of the original image better.  I never was able to get the image to display better and it was a little tricky to get my first 3 control points placed with a low RMS.  I was able to identify some nice features in the reference and input images but the resolution was so poor it took a few wild guesses to get it close.  My overall RMS was 0.658. 

The ERDAS software is real quirky and it seems like we are missing some tutorials or other key information that may help?

The links to my XPS Drawing and Excel file is below:

XPS Map

Excel file

Module 2-Spectral Band Basics

Module 2 Exercises
Identify Forest, Deepwater and Shallow Water Areas
Near Cushman Lake, Washington

Links to maps below

Map 1

Map 2

Map 3