NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 91

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 91

BOREAS Level-0 TIMS Imagery:

Digital Counts in BIL Format

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=20010022234 2018-05-14T18:51:58+00:00Z
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NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 91

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 91

BOREAS Level-0 TIMS Imagery:

Digital Counts in BIL Format

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 TIMS Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format

Jeffrey A. Newcomer, Roseanne Dominguez

Summary

For BOREAS, the TIMS imagery, along with the other remotely sensed images, was collected to

provide spatially extensive information over the primary study areas. The level-0 TIMS images cover

the time periods of 16-Apr-1994 to 20-Apr-1994 and 06-Sep-1994 to 17-Sep-1994. The images are

available in their original uncalibrated format.

Note that the level-0 TIMS data are not contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set. An inventory

listing file is supplied on the CD-ROM to inform users of the data that were collected. See Section 15

for information about how to acquire actual level-0 TIMS images.

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

1. Data Set Overview

1.1 Data Set Identification

BOREAS Level-0 TIMS Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format

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 six-band Thermal

Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) image data collected on the National Aeronautics and Space

Administrator's (NASA's) C-130 aircraft.

Page 1
1.3 Objective/Purpose

ForBOREAS,theTIMS imagery,alongwith theotherremotelysensedimages,wascollectedto

providespatiallyextensiveinformationovertheprimarystudyareas.Thisinformationincludes

detailedlandcover,biophysicalparametermapssuchasfractionofPhotosyntheticallyActive

Radiation(fPAR) andLeafAreaIndex(LAI), andsurfacethermalproperties.

1.4 Summary of Parameters

Level-0 TIMS image data in the BOREAS Information System (BORIS) contain the following

parameters: original housekeeping information, calibration information, and bands 1-6 in the NASA

Ames Research Center (ARC) BIL format.

1.5 Discussion

BORIS staff processed the level-0 TIMS images by:

• Extracting pertinent header information from the level-0 image product and placing it in an

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) file on disk

• Reading the information in the disk file and loading the online data base with needed

information

1.6 Related Data Sets

BOREAS Level-0 C-130 Aerial Photography

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

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

BOREAS Level-lb ASAS Imagery: At-sensor Radiance Values in BSQ Format

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

Page 2
3. Theory of Measurements

According to Planck's equation, all objects emit radiation, depending on their temperature and

emissivity. The temperature of an object is of interest in determining the radiation balance at Earth's

surface. The emissivity of an object as a function of wavelength can provide information on the

object's composition. Though much of the radiation emitted from an object is absorbed by the

atmosphere, a few good atmospheric windows from 3 to 5 micrometers (m) and 8 to 14 m exist for the

remote sensing of emitted surface radiation.

The NASA Earth Resources Aircraft Program at ARC operates the C-130 aircraft to acquire data

for Earth science research. The TIMS instrument used on the C-130 aircraft collects radiance

measurements in six spectral bands covering the infrared spectrum from 8.2 to 12.2 _am.

Thematic considerations have dictated, within technical constraints, the choice of spectral band

position and width in the TIMS sensor. These bands were chosen after many years of analysis for their

value in discrimination of geologic features, and they correspond to the emissivity anomalies

associated with silicate and carbonate rocks.

4. Equipment

4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description

The TIMS instrument is an optomechanical scanner designed to collect multispectral thermal

imagery for geologic mapping. The TIMS is generally flown at medium altitudes and provides 3- to

20-m resolution at nadir at an altitude of 1,200 to 8,000 m, respectively. The TIMS is flown aboard

NASA's C-130 aircraft based at ARC. The six spectral channels of the TIMS sensor have the

following bandpasses:

TIMS Channel Wavelength, _m

1 8

2 8

3 9

4 9

5 i0

6 ii

2-8.6

6-9.0

0-9.4

4-10 .2

2-11 .2

2-12 .2

4.1.1 Collection Environment

As part of the BOREAS Staff Science data collection effort, BORIS distributed six-band level-0

TIMS image data. The TIMS was 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 instrument are the responsibility of ARC. The C-130 Experimenter's Handbook (supplemental)

produced by the Medium Altitude Missions Branch at ARC provides a description of the instrument,

calibration procedures, and data format.

4.1.2 Source/Platform

NASA's C-130 Earth Resources Aircraft.

4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives

The original purpose of the TIMS scanner was to provide low-altitude data in the thermal infrared

region of the electromagnetic spectrum for use in geologic mapping. For BOREAS, the TIMS was

flown on the C-130 with a set of other scalmers to provide full coverage of the reflected and emitted

surface energy.

Page 3
4.1.4 Key Variables

Emitted radiation, reflected radiation, temperature.

4.1.5 Principles of Operation

Design parameters of the TIMS are based on the specifications of Dr. Anne B. Kahle of the NASA

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). A rotating scan mirror scans the instrument's Instantaneous

Field-Of-View (IFOV) across track as the motion of the aircraft moves the sensor along the data

collection path.

4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry

IFOV 2.5 mrad

Total Scan Angle 76.56 °

Pixels/Scan Line 638

Sensor footprint is l0 x l0 m at nadir at 4,000 m altitude.

4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument

The TIMS instrument was built by Daedalus Enterprises, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was further

modified by the NASA Stennis Space Flight Center.

4.2 Calibration

General Calibration Information:

After the First International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment

(FIFE), BOREAS staff" attempted to further relate remotely sensed radiances to land surface

radiometers. The instrument carries two onboard blackbody sources, which fill the full aperture of the

system with energy of a preset, known temperature. The two blackbody sources are viewed by the

TIMS once every scan line. The spectral bandpass of each channel was determined by the calibration

laboratory at Stennis on an annual basis.

TIMS data may be intentionally overscanned, e.g., operated at some integral multiple of the desired

scan rate and then subsampled in preprocessing. The subsampling factor is reported as a

"demagnification factor."

4.2.1 Specifications

The wavelength ranges (in micrometers) of the bands for the TIMS are:

Band Detector Wavelength Noise Equivalent Change

in Temperature (NEdT)

1 HgCdTe 8

2 " 8

3 " 9

4 " 9

5 " i0

6 " ii

2-8. 6 0 .2°C

6-9.0 0.2°C

0-9.4 0 .2°C

4-10 .2 0.2°C

2-11 .2 0.2°C

2-12 .2 0 .2°C

DESIGN DATA:

IFOV

Across-track Field-Of-View

Nominal aperture diameter

Effective aperture area

f/number

Primary focal length

Inflight calibration

2.5 mrads

76.56 °

7.5 inches

59.8 cm 2

Not available

Not available

Two controllable blackbodies

Page 4
V/H range

Scan rate

Scan speed ability

Data quantization

Number of video samples/scan

Roll compensation

Scan mirror

NEdt

line

Variable, 0.025 to 0.25

Variable, 7.3 to 25 scans/sec.

One-third of the IFOV, scan

line to scan line

8 bits (256 discrete levels)

638

+/-15 °

45 ° rotating mirror

0.25 K

4.2.1.1 Tolerance

The TIMS channels were designed for noise-equivalent temperature differences for the channels,

represented by the radiometric sensitivity (NEdT) of 0.25 K.

4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration

The TIMS was spectrally calibrated prior to each flight season at Stennis to determine the spectral

response function of each channel.

4.2.3 Other Calibration Information

The TIMS instrument periodically viewed an extended-area precision blackbody source at ARC to

verify linearity of response over the range of 0-50 °C.

5. Data Acquisition Methods

As part of the BOREAS Staff Science data collection effort, BORIS distributed 6-band level-0 TIMS

image data. The TIMS was 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

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

produced by the Medium Altitude Missions Branch at ARC provides a description of the instrument,

calibration procedures, and data format.

6. Observations

6.1 Data Notes

Flight summary reports and verbal records on videotapes are available for the BOREAS TIMS

data.

6.2 Field Notes

Flight summary reports and verbal records on videotapes are available for the BOREAS TIMS

data.

7. Data Description

7.1 Spatial Characteristics

The BOREAS level-0 TIMS images primarily cover the Southern Study Area (SSA) and the

Northern Study Area (NSA). A few images were acquired for 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

region.

Page 5
7.1.1 Spatial Coverage

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 flights were 5,000 and 3,000 m above ground level (surface

elevation of 400 m), which normally required 25 scan lines per second. These altitudes produced 12.5

m and 7.5 m pixels at nadir given the TIMS's 2.5-mrad IFOV.

7.1.4 Projection

The BOREAS level-0 TIMS images are stored in their original data collection frame with increasing

pixel sizes from nadir to the scanning extremes based on the scan angle.

7.1.5 Grid Description

The BOREAS level-0 TIMS images are stored in their original data collection frame with increasing

pixel sizes from nadir to the scanning extremes based on the scan angle.

7.2 Temporal Characteristics

7.2.1 Temporal Coverage

The data were collected during the BOREAS Focused Field Campaign - Thaw (FFC-T) and

Intensive Field Campaign (IFC)-3, covering the periods of 16- to 20-Apr-1994 and 06- to

16-Sep- 1994.

7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map

IFC# Dates

FFC-T 16-Apr-1994 -- 20-Apr-1994

IFC-3 06-Sep-1994 -- 17-Sep-1994

7.2.3 Temporal Resolution

Images were acquired on at least one day during the field campaigns.

7.3 Data Characteristics

Page 6
7.3.1 Parameter/Variable

The main parameter contained in the image data files is: Digital Number (DN)

The other parameters contained in the TIMS housekeeping are described in section 8.2. The

descriptions of the parameters contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name

SPATIAL COVERAGE

DATE OBS

START TIME

END TIME

PLATFORM

INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

C130 MISSION ID

C130 LINE NUM

C130 RUN NUM

C130 SITE

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

TIMS MEAN FRAME STATUS

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

CRTFCN CODE

7.3.2 Variable Description/Definition

For the image data files:

Digital Number (DN) - The quantized DN derived by the NS001 TMS scanning system

for the respective channel.

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

PLATFORM

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 object (e.g., satellite, aircraft, tower,

Page 7
INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

C130 MISSION ID

C130 LINE NUM

C130 RUN NUM

C130 SITE

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

TIMS MEAN FRAME STATUS

NW LATITUDE

person) that supported the instrument.

The name of the device used to make the

measurements.

The number of spectral bands in the data.

The nominal altitude of the data collection

platform above the target.

The minimum angle from the surface normal

(straight up) to the sun during the data

collection.

The maximum angle from the surface normal

(straight up) to the sun during the data

collection.

The minimum azimuthal direction of the sun

during data collection expressed in clockwise

increments from North.

The maximum azimuthal direction of the sun

during data collection expressed in clockwise

increments from North.

The mission identifier assigned to the C130

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

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 data analyst's assessment of the quality of

the spectral bands in the data.

The data analyst's assessment of the cloud cover

that exists in the data.

The mean framestatus calculated from the values

on the digital tape of TIMS data collected during

the flight.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the northwest corner of the minimum bounding rectangle

Page 8
NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

CRTFCN CODE

for the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

northwest corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the north

east corner of the minimum bounding rectangle for

the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

north east corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the south

west corner of the minimum bounding rectangle for

the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

southwest corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The NAD83 based latitude coordinate of the south

east corner of the minimum bounding rectangle for

the data.

The NAD83 based longitude coordinate of the

southeast corner of the minimum bounding

rectangle for the data.

The BOREAS certification level of the data.

Examples are CPI (Checked by PI), CGR (Certified

by Group), PRE (Preliminary), and CPI-??? (CPI

but questionable).

7.3.3 Unit of Measurement

For theimage datafiles:Digital Number (DN) - counts

The measurement units for the parameters contained in the inventory listing file on the CD-ROM are:

Column Name Units

SPATIAL COVERAGE [none]

DATE OBS [DD-MON-YY]

START TIME [HHMM GMT]

END TIME [HHMM GMT]

PLATFORM [none]

INSTRUMENT [none]

NUM BANDS [counts]

PLATFORM ALTITUDE [meters]

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG [degrees]

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG [degrees]

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG [degrees]

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG [degrees]

C130 MISSION ID [none]

C130 LINE NUM [none]

C130 RUN NUM [none]

C130 SITE [none]

BAND QUALITY [none]

CLOUD COVER [none]

TIMS MEAN FRAME STATUS [none]

NW LATITUDE [degrees]

Page 9
NW LONGITUDE [degrees]

NE LATITUDE [degrees]

NE LONGITUDE [degrees]

SW LATITUDE [degrees]

SW LONGITUDE [degrees]

SE LATITUDE [degrees]

SE LONGITUDE [degrees]

CRTFCN CODE [none]

7.3.4 Data Source

The level-0 TIMS data were collected by the TIMS instrument on the C-130 aircraft. The data were

processed from the aircraft tapes and supplied to BOREAS by the Medium Altitude Aircraft Branch at

ARC. 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

PLATFORM

INSTRUMENT

NUM BANDS

PLATFORM ALTITUDE

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG

C130 MISSION ID

C130 LINE NUM

C130 RUN NUM

C130 SITE

BAND QUALITY

CLOUD COVER

NS001 MEAN FRAME STATUS

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

[Determined from latitude and longitude

information provided in the NASA Ames flight

summary reports]

[Software derived from TIMS housekeeping data]

[Software derived from TIMS housekeeping data]

[Software derived from TIMS housekeeping data]

[Data base constant]

[Data base constant]

[Data base constant]

[Determined from latitude and longitude

information provided in the NASA Ames flight

summary reports]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Calculated with software from latitude and

longitude and time information]

[Taken from the delivered tape label and the NASA

Ames Flight Summary Reports]

[Taken from the delivered tape label and the NASA

Ames Flight Summary Reports]

[Taken from the delivered tape label and the NASA

Ames Flight Summary Reports]

[Taken from the delivered tape label and the NASA

Ames Flight Summary Reports]

[Constant software parameter value]

[Constant software parameter value]

[Software derived from TIMS housekeeping data]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude, and the static NS001 scan

angle information]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude, and the static TIMS scan

Page 10
NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

CRTFCN CODE

angle information]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude and the static TIMS scan

angle information]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude and the static TIMS scan

angle information]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude and the static TIMS scan

angle information]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude and the static TIMS scan

angle information]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude and the static TIMS scan

angle information]

[Calculated with software from the C130 altitude

and heading, starting and ending flight line

latitude and longitude and the static TIMS scan

angle information]

[Constant data base value]

7.3.5 Data Range

The maximum range of DNs in each level-0 TIMS image band is limited from 0 to 255 so that the

values can be stored in a single 8-bit (1-byte) field. 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 1538 2217 None None None None

END TIME 1543 2237 None None None None

PLATFORM C130 C130 None None None None

INSTRUMENT N/A N/A None None None None

NUM BANDS 6 6 None None None None

PLATFORM ALTITUDE 4640 7716.3 None None None None

MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG 42.3 61.4 None None None None

MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG 42.6 61.7 None None None None

MIN SOLAR AZ ANG 123.5 240.2 None None None None

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG 124.1 242.9 None None None None

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

C130 LINE NUM 1 703 None None None None

C130 RUN NUM 1 3 None None None None

C130 SITE 429 433 None None None None

BAND QUALITY N/A N/A None None None None

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

Page 11
TIMS MEAN FRAME

STATUS

NW LATITUDE

NW LONGITUDE

NE LATITUDE

NE LONGITUDE

SW LATITUDE

SW LONGITUDE

SE LATITUDE

SE LONGITUDE

CRTFCN CODE

0 20 None None None None

53.32609 56.17763 None None None None

-106.53088 -97.96291 None None None None

53.31297 56.12803 None None None None

-106.09913 -97.77578 None None None None

53.06474 55.95072 None None None None

-106.61678 -98.02344 None None None None

53.0517 55.94053 None None None None

-106.13012 -97.83714 None None None None

PRE PRE None None None None

Minimum Data Value --

Maximum Data Value --

Missng Data Value --

Unrel Data Value --

Below Detect Limit --

Data Not Cllctd --

Blank --

N/A --

None --

The minimum value found in the column.

The maximum value found in the column.

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.

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.

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.

This value indicates that no attempt was made to

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.

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

Indicates that the value is not applicable to the respective column.

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

7.4 Sample Data Record

A sample data record for the level-0 TIMS images is not available here.The following are wrapped

versions of the first few records from the level-0 TIMS inventory table on the CD-ROM:

SPATIAL COVERAGE,DATE OBS,START TIME,END TIME,PLATFORM, INSTRUMENT,NUM BANDS

PLATFORM ALTITUDE,MIN SOLAR ZEN ANG,MAX SOLAR ZEN ANG,MIN SOLAR AZ ANG,

MAX SOLAR AZ ANG,CI30 MISSION ID,CI30 LINE NUM, CI30 RUN NUM, CI30 SITE,

BAND QUALITY,CLOUD COVER, TIMS MEAN FRAME STATUS,NW LATITUDE,NW LONGITUDE,

NE LATITUDE,NE LONGITUDE,SW LATITUDE,SW LONGITUDE,SE LATITUDE,SE LONGITUDE,

CRTFCN CODE

'SSA',I6-APR-94,1606,1610, 'C130', 'TIMS',6,4753.1,56.0,56.3,123.5,124.1,

'94-004-09',301,i, '429', 'NOT ASSESSED', 'NOT ASSESSED',0,53.71754,-106.37024

53.6996,-i05.93603,53.52663,-i06.39161,53.50878,-i05.95939, 'PRE'

'SSA',I6-APR-94,1615,1618, 'C130', 'TIMS',6,4771.0,55.0,55.3,125.7,126.3,

'94-004-09',303,1, '429', 'NOT ASSESSED', 'NOT ASSESSED',0,53.65307,-106.48068

53.6305,-105 92932,53.62535,-i06.48372,53.60279,-i05.93272, 'PRE'

Page 12
8. Data Organization

8.1 Data Granularity

The smallest unit of data for level-0 TIMS images is a single image. Although the image inventory

is contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set, the actual level-0 TIMS images are not. See Section 15 for

information about how to obtain the data.

8.2 Data Format(s)

The CD-ROM inventory listing file 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.

Each level-0 TIMS image from a given flight is contained in one file. A physical record of 4,188

bytes contains six logical records of 698 bytes each that contain the image data (638 bytes) and

housekeeping information (60 bytes) from the six TIMS spectral bands in BIL order. The bytes of the

16-bit and 32-bit values in the housekeeping information are ordered as high-order byte first. For

computer systems using low-order byte first ordering, the bytes in these fields need to be swapped

before they can be interpreted properly. The specific logical record structure is:

Bytes Description

Bytes

1

13

15

17

19

21

23

25

27

29

31

33

37

1 - 60:

- 2

- 4

- 8

- 12

- 14

- 16

- 18

- 20

- 22

- 24

- 26

- 28

- 30

- 32

- 36

- 38

Housekeeping Information

Status (16-bit integer)

0 implies the data are good; nonzero bad

i0 Interpolated data

20 Repeated data

30 Zero fill data

Filler (16-bit integer)

Scan line count (32-bit integer)

Thumbwheel switches (32-bit integer)

Consists of 8 digits of the form DDMMYSSS

where DD is day of month

MM is the month

Y is last digit of the year

SSS is generally the mission number but could

also be the sortie/flight line number

Blackbody #i Thermal Reference Temperature (16-bit integer)

(hundredths of degrees C)

Blackbody #2 Thermal Reference Temperature (16-bit integer)

(hundredths of degrees C)

Scan Speed (16-bit integer) (tenths of scans per second)

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) hours (16-bit integer)

Minutes of the hour (16-bit integer)

Tenths of seconds (16-bit integer)

Filler (16-bit integer)

(Set to i00) (Reserved for Demagnification)

Filler (16-bit integer)

Gain Value (times i000) (16-bit integer)

Channel Number (16-bit integer)

Time (32-bit integer)

(7 digits in the form of hhmmsst where hh is the hour,

mm is the minute, ss is the second, and t is the tenth

of a second)

Blackbody #i Response (16-bit integer) (Count)

(What the sensor sees when it looks at Blackbody #i)

Page 13
39 - 40 Blackbody #2 Response (16-bit integer) (Count)

(What the sensor sees when it looks at Blackbody #2)

41 - 42 Aircraft Roll angle (16-bit integer)

(tenths of degrees)

(Positive values indicate clockwise rotation of the aircraft

when viewed from the front; negative values indicate

counterclockwise rotation)

43 - 44 Aircraft Pitch Angle (16-bit integer)

(tenths of degrees)

(Positive values indicate upward movement of the

front of the aircraft from a horizontal position;

negative values indicate downward movement)

45 - 46 True heading (16-bit integer)

(tenths of degrees)

(0 or 360 = North; 90 = East; 180 = South; 270 = West)

47 - 48 Latitude degrees (16-bit integer)

(Positive values indicate latitudes N of the Equator)

49 - 50 Latitude tenths of minutes (16-bit integer)

51 - 52 Longitude degrees (16-bit integer)

(Positive values indicate longitudes E of the

central meridian)

53 - 54 Longitude tenths of minutes (16-bit integer)

55 - 56 Ground speed (16-bit integer) (nautical miles per hour)

57 - 58 Drift angle (16-bit integer)

(tenths of degrees)

(Positive values indicate left drift)

59 - 60 Navigation data status bits

(Bit on implies valid data)

1 bit -- Latitude

2 bit -- Longitude

4 bit -- Ground speed

8 bit -- Drift angle

Bytes 61 - 698: Image data for the 638 pixels across a given scan line

9. Data Manipulations

9.1 Formulae

9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms

None.

9.2 Data Processing Sequence

9.2.1 Processing Steps

BORIS staff processed the level-0 TIMS images by:

• Extracting pertinent header and calibration information from the level-0 image product and

writing it to a disk file

• Reading the information in the disk file and loading the online data base with needed

information

9.2.2 Processing Changes

None.

Page 14
9.3 Calculations

9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments

The TIMS data are not geometrically corrected. The data contain both panoramic distortion, as a

function of the 76.56 degree total FOV, and other spatial perturbations induced by a moving aircraft.

9.3.2 Calculated Variables

None.

9.4 Graphs and Plots

None.

10. Errors

10.1 Sources of Error

See Section 9.3.1. Other sources of error include possible nonunity emissivity of the onboard

blackbodies and inexact knowledge of the exact blackbody temperatures in flight conditions.

10.2 Quality Assessment

10.2.1 Data Validation by Source

Spectral errors could arise because of image-wide signal-to-noise ratio, saturation, cross-talk,

spikes, and response normalization caused by a change in gain.

10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment

System optical focus is continually monitored by close observation of the apparent sharpness and

resolution of objects appearing in scenes after data processing. Although this approach is somewhat

subjective, it has proven to be a viable alternative compared to the classical resolution measurement

method, which requires removing the scanner system from the C-130 airplane with subsequent setup.

This is not a practical option during the flying/deployment portion of the year. However, any observed

focus degradation would be corrected by focus adjustment.

10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters

The NEdT for the channels is typically 0.2 °C or less, depending on aircraft flight regime, with

variations caused by vibration.

10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments

The TIMS has periodically viewed a precision extended-area blackbody calibration source to verify

linearity over the 0-50 °C. range.

10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center

The only data verification consisted of reviewing the values extracted from the tape files and loaded

into the data base.

11. Notes

11.1 Limitations of the Data

None.

11.2 Known Problems with the Data

To date, no discrepancies or problems have been noted in the data.

Page 15
11.3 Usage Guidance

Because of variable conditions found in different flight regimes on the C-130 aircraft, the onboard

blackbody temperatures reported in the housekeeping data may be artificially high, which will result in

apparently elevated ground temperatures. This is caused by cold air blasting on the front surface of

these reference sources.

The TIMS data are not geometrically corrected. The data contain both panoramic distortion, as a

function of the 76-degree total FOV, and other spatial perturbations induced by a moving aircraft.

11.4 Other Relevant Information

None.

12. Application of the Data Set

The TIMS data can be used to analyze the thermal properties of various surface targets.

None.

13. Future Modifications and Plans

14. Software

14.1 Software Description

BORIS staff developed software and command procedures for:

• Extracting header and calibration information from level-0 TIMS images on tape and writing it

to ASCII files on disk

• Reading the ASCII disk file and logging the level-0 TIMS image products into the Oracle data

base tables

14.2 Software Access

The software is written in C and is operational on VAX 6410 and MicroVAX 3100 systems at

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The primary dependencies in the software are the tape

Input/Output (I/O) library and the Oracle data base utility routines.

15. Data Access

The level-0 TIMS imagery 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

Page 16
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.

16. Output Products and Availability

16.1 Tape Products

The BOREAS level-0 TIMS data can be made available on 1600- or 6250-Bytes Per Inch (BPI)

Digital Archive Tape (DAT), 9-track, or 8-ram tapes.

16.2 Film Products

Color aerial photographs and video records were made during data collection. The video record

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

sensor was triggered. The BOREAS data base contains an inventory of available BOREAS aircraft

flight documentation, such as flight logs, videotapes, and photographs.

16.3 Other Products

Although the image inventory is contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set, the actual level-0 NS001

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

17. References

17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation

There is a Daedalus Operator's Manual for TIMS, but it is proprietary and may not be reproduced

without their permission. Contact Daedalus Enterprises, Ann Arbor, MI, for details.

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.

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

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

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.

Page 17
Sellers,P.andF.Hall. 1994.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:ExperimentPlan.Version

1994-3.0,NASA BOREASReport(EXPLAN 94).

Sellers,P.andF.Hall. 1996.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:ExperimentPlan.Version

1996-2.0,NASA BOREASReport(EXPLAN 96).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, andK.F. Huemmrich.1996.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:1994

Operations.NASA BOREASReport(OPSDOC94).

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

ARC

ASCII

BIL

BOREAS

BORIS

BPI

CCRS

CCT

CD-ROM

DAAC

DAT

DN

EOS

EOSDIS

FFC-T

FIFE

FOV

fPAR

GMT

GSFC

19. List of Acronyms

- Ames Research Center

- American Standard Code for Information Interchange

- Band Interleaved by Line

- BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

- BOREAS Information System

- Bytes Per Inch

- Canada Centre for Remote Sensing

- Computer Compatible Tape

- Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory

- Distributed Active Archive Center

- Digital Archive Tape

- Digital Number

- Earth Observing System

- EOS Data and Information System

- Focused Field Campaign - Thaw

- First ISLSCP Field Experiment

- Field-Of-View

- fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation

- Greenwich Mean Time

- Goddard Space Flight Center

Page 18
HgCdTe

IFC

IFOV

I/O

ISLSCP

JPL

LAI

NAD83

NASA

NEdt

NSA

ORNL

PANP

SSA

TIMS

TM

TMS

URL

- mercury-cadmium-tellurium

- Intensive Field Campaign

- Instantaneous Field-of-View

- Input/Output

- International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project

- Jet Propulsion Laboratory

- Leaf Area Index

- North American Datum of 1983

- National Aeronautics and Space Administration

- Noise-Equivalent Change in Temperature

- Northern Study Area

- Oak Ridge National Laboratory

- Prince Albert National Park

- Southern Study Area

- Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner

- Thematic Mapper

- Thematic Mapper Simulator

- Uniform Resource Locator

20. Document Information

20.1 Document Revision Date(s)

Written: 21-Mar- 1995

Last Updated: 05-Feb- 1999

20.2 Document Review Date(s)

BORIS Review: 06-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 TIMS data were collected and processed from

the original aircraft tapes by personnel of 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 19
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 TIMS Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format 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. 91

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

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

R. Dominguez: ATAC, Inc., NASAAmes 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, the TIMS imagery, along with the other remotely sensed images, was collected to

provide spatially extensive information over the primary study areas. The level-0 TIMS images cover

the time periods of 16-Apr-1994 to 20-Apr-1994 and 06-Sep-1994 to 17-Sep-1994. The images are

available in their original uncalibrated format.

14. SUBJECT TERMS

BOREAS, remote sensing science, TIMS imagery.

17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF REPORT

Unclassified

NSN 7540-01-280-5500

18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF THIS PAGE

Unclassified

19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

OF ABSTRACT

Unclassified

15. NUMBER OF PAGES

19

16. PRICE CODE

20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

UL

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89)

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18

298-102