Project status is complete. Please check the CICT project
list for currently active projects.
Remote Sensing Research and Applications
The Remote Sensing Research and Applications Project was a multidisciplinary project dedicated to developing the
applications of remote sensing technology for addressing geologic, botanic, and hydrologic issues for the USGS at
national, regional, and site-specific scales. The USGS and the Remote Sensing Research and Applications Project
addressed a diverse set of scientific problems, conducting basic research to provide a firm
foundation for remote sensing studies and must develop and test new methods of applying existing and evolving
remote sensing data to changing USGS issues. This research included field and the laboratory studies, and helped establish the links between remote sensing data and geochemical and geophysical data, provided the
rationale for interpreting the results of remote sensing analyses, and formed the basis for designing remote sensing
applications. Integrating the results of remote
sensing analyses with other types of data is a non-trivial task requiring broad knowledge and experience, as well as an
acute appreciation of the complex problems being addressed. However, data integration expands the utility of remote
sensing data interpretations, and other data types as well, and provides a powerful tool for addressing complex earth
science issues for which obtaining the best possible answers is critical to decision-making processes.
Project Objectives
The Project was structured around five primary objectives:
- Develop a more complete understanding of the spectral signatures of minerals, water, vegetation, and man-made
materials.
- Define potential applications of existing and future remote sensing data and integrate these applications for USGS
and other collaborators and stakeholders.
- Expand remote sensing applications for natural resource and environmental assessment and management.
- Establish strategies for integrating remote sensing data interpretations into multilayered GIS analyses.
- Expand the application of remote sensing technology in geochemical and geophysical investigations.
Relevance & Impact
The Remote Sensing Research and Applications Project is addressing research areas and topics critical to the continued
evolution of remote sensing applications, both in the Federal government and the scientific community and to
maintaining the capability of the USGS to quickly respond to new and evolving issues. Products and scientific
contributions by Project personnel have established the USGS as a leader in the field of remote sensing. The Project is a major contributor of thoroughly documented spectra of minerals and materials to the global remote sensing community.
The timely completion of mineral resource and environmental assessments of Federal lands would be difficult to
accomplish without remote sensing data applications developed by Project personnel.
Project Chiefs:
| Trude King |
Box 25046 MS 964
Denver, CO 80225 |
303-236-1373
tking |
| Daniel Knepper |
Box 25046 MS 973
Denver, CO 80225 |
303-236-1385
dknepper |
Products
Products are listed according to task:
Task 1 - Spectral Characterization of Soils
Presentations
- Hubbard B.E., Clark R.G., Gellis A.C., Pavich M.J. and Mars J.C. ,2004, Building a
Geospatial/Temporal Database for Assessing Sediment Erosion in the Susquehanna Watershed: Contributions of
ASTER, Landsat-7 ETM and ALI Imagery. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with programs, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 78. Bernard GSA abstract
- King, T.V.V., The following powerpoint file has not been reviewed for compliance to 508 standards. For information on content, please contact the author Trude King at tking@usgs.govPresentation
for Soil Geochemistry Workshop [Powerpoint File,
40 MB]
- Other Soil Geochemistry Workshop Presentations
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Task 2 - Integrating Remote Sensing Technology with Geochemical and Geophysical Data in Mineral Resource Applications
Poster
- McDougal, R.R., Fey, D.L., and Wirt, Laurie, 2005, Infiltration through a mine-waste dump and metal
transport for a nearby stream, Waldorf Mine, Clear Creek, Colorado: poster presented at the Mineral Resources Program Science Exchange Meeting, March 15-17, 2005, Denver, Colorado.
Report
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Task 3 - Developing new methods of vegetation characterization using remote sensing for investigating the role of geologic processes and soil mineral composition on landscape response to disturbances
Presentations
- Kokaly, R.F., Root, R.R.,Brown, K., Anderson, G.L., and Hager, S., 2003, Mapping the invasive
species leafy spurge Euphorbia esula) in Theodore Roosevelt National Park using field measurements of vegetation spectra
and imaging spectroscopy data., Geological Society of America. Kokaly GSA abstract
- Morath, L., Kokaly, R.F., Rockwell, B., Root, R.R., and Goodman, S., 2002, Post-Fire Characterization of the Land Surface and Vegetation Using Imaging Spectroscopy Data for Cerro Grande NM and Left Hand Creek WY: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Morath GSA abstract
Report
- Kokaly, R.F., Despain, D.G., Clark, R.N., and K.E. Livo, 2003, Mapping vegetation in Yellowstone
National Park using spectral feature analysis of AVIRIS data, Remote Sensing of Environment, 84, 437-456.
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Task 4 - Remote Sensing Characterization of Mineralized Districts
Presentations
- Berger, B.R., T.V.V. King, L.c. Morath, J.D. Phillips, 2003,
Application of high-altitude infrared spectral data in hydrothermal alteration
mapping and interpretation, northern Patagonia Mountains, Arizona: Geological
Society of America. Berger GSA abstract
- Livo, K. Eric, and Knepper, D.H., Jr., 2004, Non-invasive Exploration in
an Environmentally Sensitive World: Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Feb. 23-25, 2004.
- Livo, K.E., and Knepper, D.H., Jr., 2004, Porphyry Copper Systems Characterized
with Remotely Sensed Data: Denver Mining Club, 30 August 2004.
- Livo, K.E., S. Lundington, G.S. Plumlee, and R.N. Clark, 2003, Porphyry
system alteration at Questa New Mexico, using airborne visible-infrared
imaging spectrometer data: Geological Society of America. Livo GSA abstract
Reports
- Berger, B.R., King, T.V.V., Morath, L.C., and Phillips, J.D., 2003, Utility of high-altitude infrared spectral
data in mineral exploration: Application to northern Patagonia Mountains, Arizona: Economic Geology, 98 (5), pp. 1003-1018.
- Livo, K.E. and Knepper, D.H., 2004, Non-invasive exploration in an environmentally sensitive world: Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, CD-ROM Preprint 04-172, 8 p.
Workshops
- King, T.V.V., 2002, Mapping mineral and vegetation distribution for site characterization:
Examples based on recent USGS studies using remotely sensed data: Invited presentation, 2nd MINEO Workshop:
Hyperspectral imaging and GIS in mining-related impact mapping and monitoring, Orleans, France, Dec. 11-13, 2002. 2nd MINEO Workshop
- Livo, K.E., and Bove, D.J., 2004, Characterization of the Montezuma polymetallic mining
district, Colorado Mineral Belt, Colorado: 2004 JPL Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer Data Workshop, Pasadena.
- Livo, K. E., and Clark, R.N., 2002, Characterizing mineral alteration using
Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer data at Questa, New Mexico:
2002 JPL Airborne
Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer Data Workshop, Pasadena.
- Livo, K.E., and Clark, R.N., 2003, Molybdenum porphyry alteration mapped using Airborne
Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer data: 2003 JPL Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer Data Workshop, Pasadena.
- Rockwell, B.W., 2002, Using remote sensing to evaluate mining-related environmental impacts:
An overview of the USGS-USEPA Utah imaging spectroscopy project, 2nd MINEO Workshop: Hyperspectral imaging and
GIS in mining-related impact mapping and monitoring, Orleans, France, Dec. 11-13, 2002. 2nd MINEO Workshop
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Task 5 - Linking spectral measurements to clay mineral concentrations and rock strength
- No products listed for this task.
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Task 6 - Evaluation of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data for mineral resource studies
Report
- Rowan, L. C., and Mars, J.C., 2003, Lithologic mapping in the Mountain Pass, Calfornia area using
Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data: Remote Sensing of Environment, v.
84, pp. 350-366.
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Task 7 - Imaging Spectroscopy Research and Development
Presentations
- Boardman, J.W., Clark, R.N., Mazer, A.S., Biehl, L.L., Kruse, F.A., Torson, J., and Staenz, K., 2006, Development and implementation of software systems for imaging spectroscopy: IGARSS Conference Proceedings, Volume III, p. 1969.
- Clark, R.N., Boardman, J., Mustard, J., Kruse, F., Ong, C., Pieters, C., and Swayze, G.A., (invited), 2006, Mineral mapping and applications of imaging spectroscopy: IGARSS Conference Proceedings, Volume III, p. 1986.
- Schaepman, M.E., Green, R.O., Ungar,S.G., Curtiss, B., Boardman, J., Plaza, A.J., Gao, B.-C., Ustin, S., Kokaly, R., Miller, J.R., Jacquemoud, S.,
Dor, E.B.-, Clark, R., Davis, C., Dozier, J., Goodenough, D.G., Roberts, D., Swayze, G., Milton, E.J., and Goetz, A.F.H., (invited), 2006, The future of imaging spectroscopy: Prospective technologies and applications: IGARSS Conference Proceedings, Volume III, p. 2005.
- Swayze, G.A., Clark, R.N., Higgins, C.T., Kokaly, R.F., Livo, K.E., Hoefen, T.M., Ong, C., and Kruse, F.A. (invited), 2006, Evaluating minerals of environmental concern using spectroscopy: IGARSS Conference Proceedings, Volume III, p. 1990.
- Swayze, G.A., Lee, L., Clark, R.N., and Sutley, J., 2006, Mapping hydrothermal alteration on
Hawaiian shield volcanoes using imaging spectroscopy: applications to the search for relict hydrothermal systems on
Mars: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, no. 7, p. 56. Swayze GSA abstract
- Swayze, G., Lee, P., Clark, N., and Sutley, S., 2005, Spectroscopy of Hydrothermally Altered Areas
on the Hawaiian Shield Volcanoes: Lessons Applicable to the Search for Relict Hydrothermal Systems on Mars: AVIRIS Workshop, Pasadena, California, May 25-26, 2005.
Reports
- Clark, R. N., Swayze, G.A., Livo, K. E., Kokaly, R.F., King, T.V.V., Dalton, J.B., Vance, J.S., Rockwell, B.W., Hoefen, T., and McDougal, R.R., 2003, Surface Reflectance Calibration of Terrestrial Imaging Spectroscopy Data, in Green, R.O., Proceedings of the Eleventh JPL Airborne Earth Science Workshop: JPL Publication 03-04, pp. 43-63. Online at: http://speclab.cr.usgs.gov/PAPERS.calibration.tutorial
- Clark, R.N., Swayze, G. A., Livo, K.E., Kokaly, R.F., Sutley, S.J., Dalton, J.B., McDougal, R.R., and Gent, C.A., 2003, Imaging Spectroscopy: Earth and Planetary Remote Sensing with the USGS Tetracorder and Expert Systems: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 108, no. E12, 5131, 0129/2002JE001847, 44 p.
- Clark, R.N., Swayze, G.A., Wise, R., Livo, K.E., Hoefen, T., Kokaly, R., and Sutley, S.J., 2003, USGS Digital Spectral Library splib05a: USGS Open File Report 03-395.
- Kokaly, R.F., Despain, D.G., Clark, R.N., and Livo, K.E., 2003, Mapping Vegetation in Yellowstone
National Park using Spectral Feature Analysis of AVIRIS data: Remote Sensing of Environment, v. 84, pp. 437-456.
- Swayze, G.A., 2004, Using reflectance spectroscopy to evaluate minerals of environmental concern,
in King, P.L., Ramsey, M.S., and Swayze, G.A., Infrared Spectroscopy in Geochemistry, Exploration Geochemistry, and
Remote Sensing: Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short Course Series Volume 33, pp. 181-196.
- Swayze, G.A, Clark, R.N., Goetz, A.F.H., Gorelick, N.S., and Chrien, T.G., 2003, The effects of
spectrometer band pass, sampling, and signal-to-noise-ratio on spectral identification using the Tetracorder algorithm:
Journal of Geophysical Research, v.108, no. E9, 5105, doi: 10.1029/2002JE001975, 2003, 30 p.
- Swayze, G.A., Clark, R.N., Sutley, S.J., Gent, C.A., Rockwell, B.W., Blaney, D.L., Post, J.L., and
Farm, B.P., 2002, Mineral mapping Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa Shield Volcanos on Hawaii using AVIRIS data and the USGS Tetracorder spectral identification system: Lessons applicable to the search for relict Martian hydrothermal
systems, in Green, R.O., Proceedings of the 11th JPL Airborne Earth Science Workshop: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Publication 03-4, pp. 373-387.
Public Websites
- The USGS Spectroscopy Laboratory web site, http://speclab.cr.usgs.gov/,
is a major outreach tool. It currently sustains more than 175,000 hits per month.
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Related Links
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey