NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 82

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 82

BOREAS Level-0 C-130

Aerial Photography

Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Roseanne Dominguez, ATAC, Inc., NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20010022238 2018-05-15T06:37:39+00:00Z
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NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 82

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 82

BOREAS Level-0 C-130

Aerial Photography

Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Roseanne Dominguez, ATAC, Inc., NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7121 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076-1320

Price Code: A17

Available from:

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Price Code: A10
BOREAS Level-0 C-130 Aerial Photography

Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Roseanne Dominguez

Summary

For BOREAS, C-130 and other aerial photography was collected to provide finely detailed and

spatially extensive documentation of the condition of the primary study sites. The NASA C-130 Earth

Resources aircraft can accommodate two mapping cameras during flight, each of which can be fitted

with 6- or 12-inch focal-length lenses and black-and-white, natural-color, or color-IR film, depending

upon requirements. Both cameras were often in operation simultaneously, although sometimes only

the lower resolution camera was deployed. When both cameras were in operation, the higher

resolution camera was often used in a more limited fashion. The acquired photography covers the

period of April to September 1994. The aerial photography was delivered as rolls of large format (9 x

9 inch) color transparency prints, with imagery from mulitiple missions (hundreds of prints) often

contained within a single roll. A total of 1533 frames were collected from the C-130 platform for

BOREAS in 1994. Note that the level-0 C130 transparencies are not contained on the BOREAS

CD-ROM set. An inventory file is supplied on the CD-ROM to inform users of all the data that were

collected.

Some photographic prints were made from the transparencies. In addition, BORIS staff digitized a

subset of the tranparencies and stored the images in JPEG format. The CD-ROM set contains a small

subset of the collected aerial photography that were the digitally scanned and stored as JPEG files for

most tower and auxiliary sites in the NSA and SSA. See Section 15 for information about how to

acquire additional imagery.

Table of Contents

1) Data Set Overview

2) Investigator(s)

3) Theory of Measurements

4) Equipment

5) Data Acquisition Methods

6) Observations

7) Data Description

8) Data Organization

9) Data Manipulations

10) Errors

11) Notes

12) Application of the Data Set

13) Future Modifications and Plans

14) Software

15) Data Access

16) Output Products and Availability

17) References

18) Glossary of Terms

19) List of Acronyms

20) Document Information

Page 1
1. Data Set Overview

1.1 Data Set Identification

BOREAS Level-0 C-130 Aerial Photography

1.2 Data Set Introduction

The BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) Staff Science effort covered those activities

that were BOREAS community-level activities, or required uniform data collection procedures across

sites and time. These activities included the acquisition, processing, and archiving of the digital images

and aerial photography collected on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's)

C-130 aircraft. The level-0 C-130 photography consists of both natural-color and color-infrared (IR)

transparencies acquired during the C-130 flights over the BOREAS study areas during 1994.

1.3 Objective/Purpose

For BOREAS, the C-130 and other aerial photography were collected to provide finely detailed and

spatially extensive visual documentation of the condition of the primary study sites.

1.4 Summary of Parameters

Level-0 C-130 aerial photography, at two scales and in both natural-color (400-700 nm) and

color-IR (510-900 nm), was obtained by dual-camera systems during the 1994 BOREAS field season.

The aerial photography was delivered as rolls of transparency film and each frame is approximately 8

inches x 8 inches.

The imagery over the Northern Study Area (NSA) and Southern Study Area (SSA) tower and

auxiliary sites that were digitized by BOREAS Information System (BORIS) staff are stored in Joint

Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) files.

1.5 Discussion

BOREAS Information System (BORIS) staff processed the level-0 C-130 aerial photography by:

• Reviewing the film on the rolls with the flight logs obtained from NASA Ames Research

Center (ARC) to check for discrepancies in the number of frames and coverage

• Compiling the information into spreadsheets for loading into the online data base

• Loading the spreadsheet information into data base tables

• Cross-checking the photographic information against data collected by other instrument

systems on the C-130 aircraft

BOREAS Information System (BORIS) staff processed the JPEG images by:

• Viewing rolls of film on a light table to identify good frames of site coverage. Extracting the

frames of interest from the film rolls, noting the frame number, mission, and film type,

• Scanning the transparencies using a digital scanner,

• Replacing the scanned frames within the film rolls,

• Post-processing the imagery in Adobe Photoshop to a) orient the imagery with the edge

closest to north at the top, b) cropping images to the edge of the frame, c) adjusting the images

for brightness, contrast, and hue if necessary,

• Saving images in JPEG format with a quality level of 6.

1.6 Related Data Sets

BOREAS Level-0 ER-2 Aerial Photography

BOREAS Level-0 C-130 Navigation Data

BOREAS Level-0 NS001 TMS Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format

BOREAS Level-0 TIMS Imagery: At-sensor Radiance in BSQ Format

BOREAS Level-lb ASAS Imagery

Page 2
2. Investigator(s)

2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title

BOREAS Staff" Science

2.2 Title of Investigation

BOREAS Staff Science Aircraft Data Acquisition Program

2.3 Contact Information

Contact 1:

Jeffrey S. Myers

Aircraft Data and Sensor Facilities

NASA Ames Research Center

MS 240-6 (Bldg. 240, Rm. 219)

Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

(415) 604-6253

(415) 604-4987 (fax)

jmyers@ msmail, arc .nasa. gov

Contact 2:

Jeffrey A. Newcomer

Raytheon ITSS

Code 923

NASA GSFC

Greenbelt, MD 20771

(301) 286-7858

(301) 286-0239 (fax)

Jeffrey.Newcomer@ gsfc.nasa.gov

3. Theory of Measurements

The Earth Resources Aircraft Program at NASA's ARC operated the C-130 aircraft to acquire data for

Earth science research. The aerial photographic cameras used on the C-130 are furnished with film,

lenses, and filters needed to meet various photographic needs. For BOREAS, the aerial photography

was obtained to help provide fine spatial resolution information about the various intensive

measurement sites. Parameters used were derived from flight requests submitted by principal

investigators. All C-130 photo acquisition was flown with 60% overlap in order to provide stereo

coverage over the study area. Dual Zeiss cameras were flown onboard the C-130B. Color-IR

photographs were acquired on every BOREAS mission. During the thaw and Intensive Field

Campaign (IFC)- 1, the higher resolution camera often obtained natural-color photographs.

4. Equipment

4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description

The cameras used on the C-130 included:

• Zeiss RMK A 15/23 (camera ID# 75) with a 6-inch focal length (153-ram) lens

• Zeiss RMK AR 30/23 (camera ID# 85) with a 12-inch focal length (305-ram) lens

These are metric mapping cameras manufactured in Germany. The actual dates of manufacture are

unknown.

Page 3
4.1.1 Collection Environment

As partof theBOREASStaffSciencedatacollectioneffort,theARC MediumAltitudeAircraft

Branchcollectedandprocessedcolor-IRandnatural-coloraerialphotographytoBOREASlevel-0

products.Thevariouscamerasystemswereflown onNASA'sC-130aircraftduringtheBOREAS

missions(seetheBOREASExperimentPlanforflight patterndetailsandobjectives).Maintenanceand

operationof thecamerasweretheresponsibilityofARC. TheC-130Experimenter'sHandbook

(supplemental)producedby theMediumAltitudeAircraftBranchatARCprovidesadescriptionof the

systems,calibrationprocedures,andformat.

4.1.2 Source/Platform

NASA's C-130 Earth Resources Aircraft.

4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives

The purpose of the aerial photography was to provide detailed spatial resolution information about

the sites over which numerous data sets were being collected.

4.1.4 Key Variables

Reflected radiation.

4.1.5 Principles of Operation

The C-130 cameras were manually started and stopped by a camera operator at the beginning and

end of each flight line. Rates of frame acquisition were determined by the camera operator.

Photographic frames were nominally acquired (exposed) at a rate that provided 60% overlap from

frame to frame to ensure adequate stereo coverage of the ground scene. The cycle between frames was

determined by the speed and altitude of the aircraft.

4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry

Although a few lower-level flights were made over specific targets, the majority of BOREAS

C-130 flight altitudes ranged from 4,000- to 8,000-m Above Ground Level (AGL). In most cases, two

cameras acquired photography simultaneously, one with a 153.16-mm focal-length lens and another

with a 305.11-mm focal-length lens. This resulted in photography at scales ranging from 1:13,000 to

1:52,000. The following are the various lens, film, filter, and exposure combinations used throughout

the season.

Camera Focal Length Film Type Filter(s) F-Stop

Zeiss-075 153.16 mm Aerochrome IR 2443 Wratten 12 4

Zeiss-075 153.16 mm Aerochrome IR 2443 Wratten 12 5.6

Zeiss-085 305.11 mm Aerochrome MS 2448 None 5.6

Zeiss-085 305.11 mm Aerochrome IR 2443 Wratten 12 5.6

Zeiss-085 305.11 mm Aerochrome IR 2443 Wratten 12 4

4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument

The C-130 cameras were manufactured by Zeiss in Germany. The dates of manufacture are

unknown.

4.2 Calibration

All camera calibrations were performed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Mapping

Division's Optical Science Laboratory in Reston, VA. The most recent calibration of camera ID# 85

was 30-June-1981. Camera ID# 75 was most recently calibrated on 10-Dec-1976. No post-BOREAS

calibration was performed.

Page 4
4.2.1 Specifications

Camera: Zeiss-075

Lens Field-of-View

F-stop

Lens focal length

Frame rate

(FOV) 90 °

4

153.16 mm

dependent on aircraft altitude and speed

Camera: Zeiss-085

Lens FOV 55 °

F-Stop 5.6

Lens focal length 305.11 mm

Frame rate dependent on aircraft altitude and speed

The wavelength ranges (in micrometers) of film/filter combinations used are:

Film Filter

Effective

Wavelength

Aerochrome IR 2443

Aerochrome MS 2448

Wratten 12

None

.0.510-0.900 micrometers

.0.400-0.700 micrometers

4.2.1.1 Tolerance

Not applicable.

4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration

To conform to USGS mapping standards, the camera system should be calibrated every 3 years.

The cameras used for BOREAS missions have not been calibrated recently and do not conform to these

standards. A complete calibration of a camera system would determine the following:

• Calibrated focal length

• Radial distortion of the image plane

• Resolving power from center to edge of field of the image plane

• Filter parallelism

• Filter antivignetting gradient density

• Shutter speed and efficiency

• Film platen flatness and identification

• Location of the corner and midside fiducials and point of symmetry with reference to the

principal point of autocollimation

• X, Y fiducial coordinates

• Distances between fiducial marks and 90f condition angle measurements

4.2.3 Other Calibration Information

These cameras have not been calibrated since NASA moved its Earth Resources program and

operations from Johnson Space Center to ARC in 1982.

5. Data Acquisition Methods

As part of the BOREAS Staff Science data collection effort, the ARC Medium Altitude Aircraft Branch

collected and processed color-IR and natural-color aerial photography to BOREAS level-0 products.

The various camera systems were flown on NASA's C-130 aircraft during the BOREAS mission (see

the BOREAS Experiment Plan for flight pattern details and objectives). Maintenance and operation of

the cameras are the responsibility of ARC. The C-130 Experimenter's Handbook (supplemental)

produced by the Medium Altitude Aircraft Branch at ARC provides a description of the systems,

calibration procedures, and format.

Page 5
6. Observations

6.1 Data Notes

None.

6.2 Field Notes

Flight summary reports and verbal records on videotapes are available.

7. Data Description

7.1 Spatial Characteristics

7.1.1 Spatial Coverage

The BOREAS level-0 photographic images cover portions of the Southern and Northern Study

Areas, as well as some imagery over the transect area between the SSA and the NSA. The SSA and the

NSA are located in the southwest and northeast portions of the overall BOREAS region. The JPEG

files on the CD-ROM cover only tower sites and some of the auxiliary sites within the study areas.

The North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) corner coordinates of the SSA are:

Latitude Longitude

Northwest 54.321 N 106.228 W

Northeast 54.225 N 104.237 W

Southwest 53.515 N 106.321 W

Southeast 53.420 N 104.368 W

The NAD83 corner coordinates of the NSA are:

Latitude Longitude

Northwest 56.249 N 98.825 W

Northeast 56.083 N 97.234 W

Southwest 55.542 N 99.045 W

Southeast 55.379 N 97.489 W

7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map

Not available.

7.1.3 Spatial Resolution

Typical altitudes for BOREAS were around 5,000-m AGL. The scale of the photography depends

on the altitude of the aircraft and the focal length of the lens attached to the camera.

7.1.4 Projection

Not applicable.

7.1.5 Grid Description

Not applicable.

7.2 Temporal Characteristics

Page 6
7.2.1 Temporal Coverage

The photographs were collected during BOREAS' three IFCs and the Focused Field

Campaign-Thaw (FFC-T) covering the period from 16-Apr- 1994 through 17-Sep- 1994.

The JPEG images on the CD-ROM were mostly from imagery acquired during August and

September, except for a few images in June.

7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map

Images were acquired at the following range of dates for each campaign:

Campaign Dates

FFC-T 16-Apr-1994

IFC-I 26-May-1994

IFC-2 21-Ju1-1994

IFC-3 06-Sep-1994

-- 20-Apr-1994

-- 08-Jun-1994

-- 08-Aug-1994

-- 17-Sep-1994

7.2.3 Temporal Resolution

Images were acquired on the following dates from respective cameras. Low/high in the camera

column refers to the resolution/scale of the imagery as a result of the focal length of the lens used. If

both cameras were in use, the two numbers in the subsequent columns refer to the respective cameras.

Site Date Camera # of Frames Film

low/high low/high low/high

Thaw

SSA 16-Apr-94 both 25/24 IR/VIS

SSA 19-Apr-94 low 260 IR

NSA 20-Apr-94 low 200 IR

IFC-I

SSA 26-May-94 both

SSA 31-May-94 both

SSA 01-Jun-94 both

SSA 04-Jun-94 both

SSA 06-Jun-94 both

NSA 07-Jun-94 both

NSA 08-Jun-94 both

25/41

34/58

21/37

19/33

19/27

107 53

6 10

IR/VIS

IR/VIS

IR/VIS

IR/VIS

IR/VIS

IR/VIS

IR/VIS

IFC-2

SSA 21-Jui-94 both

SSA 23-Jui-94 both

SSA 24-Jui-94 both

NSA* 02-Aug-94 both

NSA 04-Aug-94 both

NSA 08-Aug-94 low

136 61

i0 16

19 36

4 4

102 30

63

IR/IR

IR/IR

IR/IR

IR/IR

IR/IR

IR

IFC-3

NSA 06-Sep-94 low 6 IR

NSA 08-Sep-94 both 10/8 IR/IR

SSA 13-Sep-94 high 43 IR

SSA 16-Sep-94 both 99/37 IR/IR

NSA 17-Sep-94 both 103/69 IR/IR

* Frames on this date were removed from the archive because of poor site conditions.

Page 7
7.3 Data Characteristics

7.3.1 Parameter/Variable

The actual photographs are natural-color or color-IR transparencies. The parameters contained in

the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

C130 START LATITUDE

C130 START LONGITUDE

C130 END LATITUDE

C130 END LONGITUDE

C130 MISSION ID

C130 LINE NUM

C130 RUN NUM

C130 SITE

PLATFORM TRACKING

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

SENSOR ID

FOCAL LENGTH

FILM TYPE

START FRAME NUM

END FRAME NUM

CLOUD COVER

PHOTO QUALITY

COMMENTS

7.3.2 Variable Description/Definition

An analog picture captured on transparency film depicting the ground area below the C-130 aircraft

in natural or infrared color. The descriptions of the parameters contained in the inventory listing file on

the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Description

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

C130 START LATITUDE

C130 START LONGITUDE

C130 END LATITUDE

The general term used to denote the spatial area

over which the data were collected.

The date on which the data were collected.

The starting Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the

data collected.

The ending Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for the

data collected.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate at the start

of a C130 flight line as given in the flight

summary reports.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate at the

start of a C130 flight line as given in the flight

summary reports.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate at the end

of a C130 flight line as given in the flight

summary reports.

Page 8
C130 END LONGITUDE

C130 MISSION ID

C130 LINE NUM

C130 RUN NUM

C130 SITE

PLATFORM TRACKING

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

SENSOR ID

FOCAL LENGTH

FILM TYPE

START FRAME NUM

END FRAME NUM

CLOUD COVER

PHOTO QUALITY

COMMENTS

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate at the end

of a C130 flight line as given in the flight

summary reports.

The mission identifier assigned to the C130 miss

mission in the form of YY-DDD-FF where YY is the

last two digits of the fiscal year, DDD is the

deployment number for "official" C130 missions and

is day of year for non-"official" C130 missions

(i.e., no site coverage), and FF is the flight

number within the given deployment (00 is given

for non-"official" C130 missions) . An example

mission identifier would be 94-006-04.

The number of the C130 line in its flights over

the BOREAS area as given in the flight logs.

Zero values are given for non-"official" C130

missions and for data between C130 sites or lines.

The number of the C130 run in its flights over

the BOREAS area as given in the flight logs.

Zero value is given for non-"official" C130

missions and data between C130 sites, lines or

runs.

The C130 site designator as given in the flight

logs. PRE is used for data taken from the

airport to the first "official" C130 site, BTW is

used for data taken between two "official" C130

sites, DSC is used for data taken after the last

"official" C130 site, TRN is used for transect

data, and YTH and YPA are used for data taken at

the YTH and YPA airports (aircraft never left

the ground).

The azimuthal direction in which the data

collection platform was traveling while collecting

the data expressed as degrees clockwise from

North.

The nominal altitude of the data collection

platform above the target.

The identifier given to the sensor/instrument

that collected the data.

The focal length of the lens that was mounted on

the camera during the time that the photography

was acquired.

The type of photographic film that was used to

acquire the imagery. An example is AEROCHROME MS

2448.

The starting frame number for this line and run

of the flight.

The ending frame number for this line and run of

the flight.

The data analyst's assessment of the cloud cover

that exists in the data.

The provided or assessed quality of the

photograph(s).

Descriptive information to clarify or enhance

the understanding of the other entered data.

Page 9
7.3.3 Unit of Measurement

Thereis nounit of measurementfor theC-130imagery.Themeasurementunitsfortheparameters

containedin theinventorylistingfile ontheCD-ROMare:

Column Name Units

SPATIAL COVERAGE [none]

DATE OBS [DD-MON-YY]

START TIME [HHMM GMT]

END TIME [HHMM GMT]

C130 START LATITUDE [degrees]

C130 START LONGITUDE [degrees]

C130 END LATITUDE [degrees]

C130 END LONGITUDE [degrees]

C130 MISSION ID [none]

C130 LINE NUM [none]

C130 RUN NUM [none]

C130 SITE [none]

PLATFORM TRACKING [degrees]

PLATFORM ALTITUDE [meters]

SENSOR ID [none]

FOCAL LENGTH [millimeters]

FILM TYPE [none]

START FRAME NUM [unitless]

END FRAME NUM [unitless]

CLOUD COVER [none]

PHOTO QUALITY [none]

COMMENTS [none]

7.3.4 Data Source

NASA ARC Aircraft Data and Sensor Facilities Zeiss aerial mapping cameras are the source of the

photography. The source of the parameter values contained in the inventory listing file on the

CD-ROM are:

Column Name Data Source

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

C130 START LATITUDE

C130 START LONGITUDE

C130 END LATITUDE

C130 END LONGITUDE

C130 MISSION ID

C130 LINE NUM

C130 RUN NUM

C130 SITE

PLATFORM TRACKING

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

SENSOR ID

FOCAL LENGTH

[Assigned by BORIS staff from spatial information]

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

[Extracted from flic

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

ht summary report]

Page 10
FILM TYPE

START FRAME NUM

END FRAME NUM

CLOUD COVER

PHOTO QUALITY

COMMENTS

[Extracted from flight summary report]

[Derived from review of film rolls]

[Derived from review of film rolls]

[Extracted from flight summary report]

[Extracted from flight summary report]

[Extracted from flight summary report]

7.3.5 Data Range

There is no data range information for the aerial photography. The following table gives

information about the parameter values found in the inventory table on the CD-ROM.

Column Name

Minimum Maximum Missng Unrel Below Data

Data Data Data Data Detect Not

Value Value Value Value Limit Cllctd

SPATIAL COVERAGE N/A N/A None None None None

DATE OBS 16-APR-94 17-SEP-94 None None None None

START TIME 1422 2217 None None None None

END TIME 1426 2237 None None None None

C130 START LATITUDE 53.06167 56.12667 -999 None None None

C130 START LONGITUDE -106.5117 -97.87167 -999 None None None

C130 END LATITUDE 53.17333 56.05167 -999 None None None

C130 END LONGITUDE -106.6183 -97.84 -999 None None None

C130 MISSION ID 94-004-09 94-009-09 None None None None

C130 LINE NUM 1 703 999 None None None

C130 RUN NUM 1 3 99 None None None

C130 SITE 429 433 999 None None None

PLATFORM TRACKING 1 359 -999 None None None

PLATFORM ALTITUDE 2148 8025 -999 None None None

SENSOR ID N/A N/A None None None None

FOCAL LENGTH 153.16 305.11 None None None None

FILM TYPE N/A N/A None None None None

START FRAME NUM 0 493 None None None None

END FRAME NUM 0 496 None None None None

CLOUD COVER N/A N/A None None None Blank

PHOTO QUALITY N/A N/A None None None None

COMMENTS N/A N/A None None None None

Minimum Data Value -- The minimum value found in the column.

Maximum Data Value -- The maximum value found in the column.

Missng Data Value -- The value that indicates missing data. This is used to

indicate that an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

Unrel Data Value -- The value that indicates unreliable data. This is used

to indicate an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the value was deemed to be

unreliable by the analysis personnel.

Below Detect Limit -- The value that indicates parameter values below the

instruments detection limits. This is used to

indicate that an attempt was made to determine the

parameter value, but the analysis personnel determined

that the parameter value was below the detection

limit of the instrumentation.

Data Not Cllctd -- This value indicates that no attempt was made to

Page 11
Blank

N/A

None

-- Indicates

-- Indicates

-- Indicates

determine the parameter value. This usually

indicates that BORIS combined several similar but

not identical data sets into the same data base table

but this particular science team did not

measure that parameter.

that blank spaces are used to denote that type of value.

that the value is not applicable to the respective column.

that no values of that sort were found in the column.

7.4 Sample Data Record

A sample data record for the level-0 C 130 photographs is not applicable. The following are

wrapped versions of the first few records from the level-0 C130 photograph inventory table on the

CD-ROM:

SPATIAL COVERAGE,DATE OBS,START TIME,END TIME,C130 START LATITUDE,

C130 START LONGITUDE,C130 END LATITUDE,C130 END LONGITUDE,C130 MISSION ID,

C130 LINE NUM, CI30 RUN NUM, CI30 SITE,PLATFORM TRACKING,PLATFORM ALTITUDE,

SENSOR ID,FOCAL LENGTH,FILM TYPE,START FRAME NUM, END FRAME NUM, CLOUD COVER,

PHOTO QUALITY,COMMENTS

'SSA-9OA',I6-APR-94,1606,1610,53.53,-105.965,53.68167,-106.32, '94-004-09',301,i,

'429',306.0,4754.0, 'ZEISS-075',I53.16, 'AEROCHROME IR 2448',i,2, '', 'GOOD', 'CLEAR'

'SSA-9OA',I6-APR-94,1606,1610,53.53,-105.965,53.68167,-106.32, '94-004-09',301,i,

'429',306.0,4754.0, 'ZEISS-085',305.11, 'AEROCHROME MS 2443',i,4, '', 'GOOD', 'CLEAR'

'SSA-9OA',I6-APR-94,1625,1629,53.62833,-105.8867,53.63,-106.3583, '94-004-09',303,

2, '429',278.5,4754.0, 'ZEISS-075',I53.16, 'AEROCHROME IR 2448',3,9, '', 'GOOD',

'CLEAR'

8. Data Organization

8.1 Data Granularity

The smallest orderable unit of data for level-0 C-130 photography is an individual photographic

frame.

8.2 Data Format(s)

The 9-inch x 9-inch transparencies from single or multiple flight lines are contained on large film

rolls delivered by ARC.

The CD-ROM inventory file containing information about the transparencies consists of numerical

and character fields of varying length separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with

single apostrophe marks. There are no spaces between the fields.

The files containing digitized versions of some of the C-130 photography on the CD-ROM are

stored in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) file format. The standard file naming

convention is date_studyarea_site res.jpg, where res is an indicator of the relative resolution of the

images, with h = high and 1 = low. A number 2 will sometimes follow this indicator if there are two

images for a given site/study area/date/resolution combination. The site given in the file name does not

mean that this is the only site covered within the image, multiple auxiliary sites are sometimes within

each frame or will be covered by a tower site image, particularly if it is a low-resolution image. If a site

is not found among the file names, view an image for a nearby site, as your area of interest may be

covered within other images. Most of the C-130 photographs were acquired over tower and auxiliary

sites within the modeling sub areas, some auxiliary sites were not covered.

Software to view the JPEG images is available from many Internet sites.

Page 12
9. Data Manipulations

9.1 Formulae

9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms

Standard photographic processing of the original negatives to positive transparencies was

performed based on the manufacturer's film developing specifications.

9.2 Data Processing Sequence

9.2.1 Processing Steps

BORIS staff processed the level-0 C- 130 aerial photography by:

• Reviewing the film on the rolls with the flight logs obtained from ARC to check for

discrepancies in numbers of frames and coverage

• Compiling the information into spreadsheets for loading into the online data base

• Loading the spreadsheet information into data base tables

• Cross-checking the photographic information against data collected by other instrument

systems on the C-130 aircraft

BOREAS Information System (BORIS) staff processed the JPEG images by:

• Viewing rolls of film on a light table to identify good frames of site coverage. Extracting the

frames of interest from the film rolls, noting the frame number, mission, and film type,

• Scanning the transparencies using a digital scanner,

• Replacing the scanned frames within the film rolls,

• Post-processing the imagery in Adobe Photoshop to a) orient the imagery with the edge

closest to north at the top, b) cropping images to the edge of the frame, c) adjusting the images

for brightness, contrast, and hue if necessary,

• Saving images in JPEG format with a quality level of 6.

9.2.2 Processing Changes

None.

9.3 Calculations

9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments

During flight, shutter speed and F-stops were altered as necessary to ensure correct camera

operations at varied altitudes and aircraft speeds. No postflight adjustments were performed on the

cameras other than normal maintenance.

9.3.2 Calculated Variables

Not applicable.

9.4 Graphs and Plots

None.

10.1 Sources of Error

None at this time.

10.2 Quality Assessment

10. Errors

Page 13
10.2.1 Data Validation by Source

ARCandBORISpersonnelreviewedthefilm for overallqualityby viewingtheresultant

photographicimagery.

10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment

Confidenceishighthatthephotographsdoin factcovertheareasthatareindicatedin theflight

logsandthatthefilm, filter, andlensesshownaretheonesthatwereused.

10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters

Interested users can refer to USGS calibration reports available from the Airborne Science Data

Facility at ARC.

10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments

None.

10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center

BORIS staff processed the level-0 C- 130 aerial photography by:

• Reviewing the film on the rolls with the flight logs obtained from ARC to check for

discrepancies in numbers of frames and coverage

• Compiling the information into spreadsheets for loading into the online data base

• Loading the spreadsheet information into data base tables

• Cross-checking the photographic information against data collected by other data systems on

the C- 130 aircraft

• Digitizing and enhancing some of the photographs for storage on the CD-ROM set as JPEG

files.

11. Notes

11.1 Limitations of the Data

To date, no discrepancies or problems have been noted in the film or the JPEG files.

11.2 Known Problems with the Data

None.

11.3 Usage Guidance

None.

11.4 Other Relevant Information

None.

12. Application of the Data Set

Although the C-130 photography was not planned for photogrammetric activities, it would be useful

for documenting the vegetation and ground conditions during the digital scanner data collection

missions.

None.

13. Future Modifications and Plans

Page 14
14. Software

14.1 Software Description

While reviewing the film and flight logs, BORIS personnel compiled information in Microsoft

Excel spreadsheet files for use in loading the online data base. The spreadsheet files were then loaded

into the data base with existing Oracle utilities. The JPEG files were created by scanning the

transparencies on a flatbed scanned and using Adobe Photoshop to prepare and view the final files.

14.2 Software Access

Contact Adobe, Microsoft, or Oracle Corporation for details on Photoshop, Excel, or Oracle data

base software. Many Internet sites contain software that can be obtained to view JPEG files.

15. Data Access

The level-0 C-130 aerial photography is available from the Earth Observing System Data and

Information System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive

Center (DAAC).

15.1 Contact Information

For BOREAS data and documentation please contact:

ORNL DAAC User Services

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

P.O. Box 2008 MS-6407

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6407

Phone: (423) 241-3952

Fax: (423) 574-4665

E-mail: ornldaac@ornl.gov or ornl@eos.nasa.gov

15.2 Data Center Identification

Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory

(ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for Biogeochemical Dynamics

http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/.

15.3 Procedures for Obtaining Data

Users may obtain data directly through the ORNL DAAC online search and order system

[http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/] and the anonymous FTP site [ftp://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/data/] or by

contacting User Services by electronic mail, telephone, fax, letter, or personal visit using the contact

information in Section 15.1.

15.4 Data Center Status/Plans

The ORNL DAAC is the primary source for BOREAS field measurement, image, GIS, and

hardcopy data products. The BOREAS CD-ROM and data referenced or listed in inventories on the

CD-ROM are available from the ORNL DAAC.

Page 15
16. Output Products and Availability

16.1 Tape Products

Not applicable to photographic images.

16.2 Film Products

Natural-color and color-IR aerial photography and video records were collected. The video records

include aircraft crew cabin intercom conversations and an audible tone that was initiated each time the

digital scanner systems were triggered. The BOREAS data base contains an inventory of available

BOREAS aircraft flight documentation, such as flight logs and videos.

16.3 Other Products

Although the inventory is contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set, the actual level-0 C130

photographs are not. See Section 15 for information about how to obtain the data. Several images

taken in 1994 are available as JPEG files on the CD-ROM series.

17. References

17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation

Airborne Instrumentation Research Project - Flight Summary Reports for Flight No. 94-004-09 to

94-009-09 or April 16, 1994, to September 19, 1994. NASA Ames Research Center, Airborne

Missions and Applications Division, Moffett Field, California, 94035.

Flight summary reports for all the C-130 BOREAS missions. Available from the Airborne Science

Data Facility at Ames Research Center. Flight Summary Reports as follows:

94-004 Series 16-Apr-1994 -- 20-Apr-1994

94-006 Series 23-May-1994 -- 18 June 1994

94-005-04 12 July 1994

94-007 Series 18 July-1994 -- 8 August 1994

94-009 Series 06-17 September 1994

NASA. 1990. C-130 Earth Resources Aircraft Experimenter's Handbook. National Aeronautics and

Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.

Reference USGS camera calibration reports. Available from the Airborne Science Data Facility at

Ames Research Center.

17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports

Newcomer, J., D. Landis, S. Conrad, S. Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J. Nickeson,

A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T. Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers, eds. 2000. Collected Data of The

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. NASA. CD-ROM.

Sellers, P. and F. Hall. 1994. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version

1994-3.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 94).

Sellers, P. and F. Hall. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version

1996-2.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 96).

Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1994

Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 94).

Page 16
Sellers,P.,F. Hall, andK.F. Huemmrich.1997.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:1996

Operations.NASA BOREASReport(OPSDOC96).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, H. Margolis,B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi,G. denHartog,J.Cihlar, M.G. Ryan,B.

Goodison,P.Crill, K.J.RansomD. Lettenmaier,andD.E. Wickland. 1995.Theboreal

ecosystem-atmospherestudy(BOREAS):anoverviewandearlyresultsfrom the1994field year.

Bulletinof theAmericanMeteorologicalSociety.76(9):1549-1577.

Sellers,P.J.,F.G.Hall, R.D.Kelly, A. Black, D. Baldocchi,J. Berry, M. Ryan,K.J. Ranson,P.M.

Crill, D.P.Lettenmaier,H. Margolis,J.Cihlar, J.Newcomer,D. Fitzjarrald,P.G.Jarvis,S.T.

Gower,D. Halliwell, D. Williams, B. Goodison,D.E.Wickland, andF.E.Guertin.1997.BOREAS

in 1997:ExperimentOverview,ScientificResultsandFutureDirections.Journalof Geophysical

Research102(D24):28,731-28,770.

17.3 Arehive/DBMS Usage Documentation

None.

None.

18. Glossary of Terms

AGL

ARC

ASAS

ASCII

BOREAS

BORIS

CD-ROM

DAAC

EOS

EOSDIS

FFC-T

FFC-W

FOV

GIS

GMT

GSFC

IFC

IFOV

IR

JPEG

MSS

NAD83

NASA

NSA

ORNL

PANP

SSA

TIMS

TM

19. List of Acronyms

- Above Ground Level

- AIaes Research Center

- Advanced Solid-State

- American Standard Code for Information

- BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

- BOREAS Information System

- Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory

- Distributed Active Archive Center

- Earth Observing System

- EOS Data and Information System

- Focused Field Campaign - Thaw

- Focused Field Campaign - Winter

- Field-Of-View

- Geographic Information System

- Greenwich Mean Time

- Goddard Space Flight Center

- Intensive Field Campaign

- Instantaneous Field-of-View

- Infrared

- Joint Photographic Experts Group

- Multispectral Scanner

- North American Datum of 1983

- National Aeronautics and Space

- Northern Study Area

- Oak Ridge National Laboratory

- Prince Albert National Park

- Southern Study Area

- Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner

- Thematic Mapper

Array Spectroradiometer

Interchange

Administration

Page 17
TMS

URL

USGS

- Thematic Mapper Simulator

- Uniform Resource Locator

- U. S. Geological Survey

20. Document Information

20.1 Document Revision Date(s)

Written: 31-Jul- 1995

Last Updated: 25-Oct- 1999

20.2 Document Review Date(s)

BORIS Review: 03-Jan- 1997

Science Review: 07-Feb- 1997

20.3 Document ID

20.4 Citation

When using these data, please include the following acknowledgement as well as citations of

relevent papers in Section 17.2:The BOREAS Level-0 C-130 photography was collected and

processed by personnel at the Medium Altitude Aircraft Branch at NASA ARC. Their contributions to

providing this data set are greatly appreciated.

Also, cite the BOREAS CD-ROM set as:

Newcomer, J., D. Landis, S. Conrad, S. Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J.

Nickeson, A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T. Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers, eds. Collected Data of

The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. CD-ROM. NASA, 2000.

20.5 Document Curator

20.6 Document URL

Page 18
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE FormApproved

OMB No. 0704-0188

Public reporting burden for this collection of informationis estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson

Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.

1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

September 2000 Technical Memorandum

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS

Technical Report Series on the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

BOREAS Level-0 C- 130 Aerial Photography 923

6. AUTHOR(S) RTOP: 923-462-33-01

Jeffrey A. Newcomer and Roseanne Dominguez

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546-0001

8. PEFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER

2000-03136-0

10. SPONSORING / MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

TM--2000-209891

Vol. 82

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

J.A. Newcomer: Raytheon ITSS; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland;

R. Dominguez: ATAC, Inc., NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Unclassifie_Unlimited

Subject Category: 43

Report available from the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information,

7121 Standard Drive, Hanover, MD 21076-1320. (301) 621-0390.

12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

For BOREAS, C-130 and other aerial photography was collected to provide finely detailed and spatially extensive documentation of the condition of the primary study sites. The NASA C-130 Earth Resources aircraft can

accommodate two mapping cameras during flight, each of which can be fitted with 6- or 12-inch focal-length

lenses and black-and-white, natural-color, or color-IR fihn, depending upon requirements. Both cameras were

often in operation simultaneously, although sometimes only the lower resolution camera was deployed. When

both cameras were in operation, the higher resolution camera was often used in a more limited fashion. The

acquired photography covers the period of April to September 1994. The aerial photography was delivered as

rolls of large format (9 x 9 inch) color transparency prints, with imagery from mulitiple missions (hundreds of

prints) often contained within a single roll. A total of 1533 frames were collected from the C-130 platform for

BOREAS in 1994. Note that the level-0 C130 transparencies are not contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set.

An inventory file is supplied on the CD-ROM to inform users of all the data that were collected. Some photographic prints were made from the transparencies. In addition, BORIS staff digitized a subset of the

tranparencies and stored the images in JPEG format. The CD-ROM set contains a small subset of the collected

aerial photography that were the digitally scanned and stored as JPEG files for most tower and auxiliary sites in

the NSA and SSA. See Section 15 for information about how to acquire additional imagery.

14. SUBJECT TERMS

BOREAS, remote sensing science, aerial photography.

17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF REPORT

Unclassified

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Unclassified

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Unclassified

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18

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