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March 18, 1968

MEMO FOR COLONEL WORTHMAN

SUBJECT: Dr. Red Sheppard

Dr. Sheppard called in on Friday, March 15 and in your absence

asked to talk with me.

Purpose: To obtain your approval of his presenting to Dr. Steininger

a copy of the attached -- which is the latest, he explains, on the project

you encouraged them to undertake.

He related to me his earlier discussions with you and the series of

briefings he had exercised. He ran through the current version for me.

Since I did not feel I could "sponsor" the submittal of the draft to

Dr. Steininger -- and conversely -- since I did not feel I could or should

discourage it -- I suggested he might "discuss" it but not leave a copy.

He agreed. We reproduced the attached copy for you.

Dr. Sheppard will call you on Monday to relate happenings.
Advisory Group Office of Science & •

Tetbnology

AMC

D. Steininger

Dr. Stetninger

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Office of Science and Technolox, (With the Assistance of the Aiviscry Group) 

.(1) Establishes General program objectives.'

Approves the augmentation to the project of any additional state,

federal or inter-national cultural and natural resource activity.

Coordinates inter-departmental policy relating to this project.

Provides program results to other departments and agencies of the

Government as appropriate.

Insures assignment of authority and rands to the implementing Government

activity. •

?roc am °aerations and Administration Level 

CIA CAD Div. and 0.P.A.)

Procures any necessary contractor services.

PUrnishes two aircraft fliahts per month with appropriate sensors.

Coordinates action and activities to provide for any additional

gover=ent furnished equipment, materiel, and other services essential to the

operation.

Reviews progress reports and monitors operations to the extent necessary

to insure contractor performance.

(5) Provides guidance, direction and supervision to the contractor to

assure compliance with program policies and procedures.

Estahlishes . guidelines for any special security as required.

Administers all contractual activities.

Payload activities will be handled within CIA through the R&D•Div.

Aircraft activities will be handled within CIA through

•
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o'ltrrrIUS:

(I) As Systems Contractor provide integration and coordination :Unctions •

between contractors, state agencies and other organizations involved in the

program.

Perform interface functions between subcontractors and federal

agencies in Washington, D.C.

Perform advanced planning for future operational activities and

develop other state earth resources applications.

Provide those services and functions necessary to assure that security

restrictions and other constraints are not violated.

(5) Relates Its experience, knowledge and capability to the limitations.

and advantages of nattiral resources data collectel by high altitude Slight.

(6) Coordinate documentation and provide publication services for

production of reports. on overall effectiveness and results of the program.

(7) Assist in image interpretation and analysis.
Syster.s

•

Provide field operations, maintenance and services for loading and

unloading sensors.

Procure film, perform =1:handling, processing, annotation and

other essential functions in preparing film for analysis.

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%.",, Participate in image interpretation and assist in analyses.

(4) Provide the spectral zonal photographic payload and its support.

Act as advisor to the federal and state governments In technical and

scientific matters pertaining to the total program:.

Serve as Chief Analyst and advisor to users in analyses o earth

resources information.

•

istablish requirements and act as principal technical advisor and

coordinator in relating collected imagery to test site data and grdund truth

information.

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Assist al v.,

111 examining other possible and potentia1 earth resource

applications for the state.

( 5 ) Critique results.
COPY

Suggested draft of:

- (1) Xemorandurz for the Record

intra-office Activity Report

Inter-office Ooerations Remort • _

• ( 2 ) Office Publication for release for public relations purposes

•

if requ'red.

(1) Per over a hundred years =an has Used photography as a tool in

his constant and continuing search to i=prove his conditions. Vian• govern,

mental agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the nepartment of

•

•

-rater .or, and ne-art=ent of Co-^erce heve used the 'nfor-s t4 on cont*nt of

the mhotograPhic i=age to assist in the resolvement of co-plex depart- nntal

:emblems. Range land determinaticns, cram and acreage statistics, urban 'end

use information an transportation networks and patterns are a few areas In

wh•oh photography has been used as

(2) Through research and Etvelopment, science and techneogy have evo'vet

the means to effi ciently Pmd effectively acquire aerial photograflic imagery in

al=ost any detail and to almost any standard desired. The contri b• t4 ona of the

scientific co==unity have also nee:: very significant in the develcp=ent of

techniques for the exploitation of the content of aerial photognephic

Trager y.

(3) Up until the last few years, however, not much action has been taken

•

In the application and use of the tethnological advances in aerial photography

and image analysis in conjunction with established ground truth data for tu.••

examination and assessment of natural and cultural resources. 'Recentapplications

of these techniques in efforts to oorrelatt extensive ermml tr. th invest:rations

•

ulth a'tittlde, large scale :erie, photography h.s 7e der.onstn, ted the

feasil-lity I• tethr.fques far identifte.N; the dynan':a of acrieuitare

anl forestry over a ltmltee. geszra;hinal area.
() FUrther scientific investigation and research is required it the

correlatian, analysis and examination of pound truth data obtained fro=

established test sites with very high altitude, small scale, large area aerial

photographic Imagery of forestry and agriculture phenomena. This type . of

realistic scientific endeavor may provide the techniques and capabilities for

the assessment of Imagery and ground truth data of additional natural resources

that could have significant social and economic implications.

(5, The collection, examination and analysis of resource information

,..mined from ground surveys and observations has long been practiced. The

estshlishment in the state of California, for example, of ground truth test

sites containing typical and representative types of trees for a given .

geographical forest area date back to 1914. Since that time this state has

established many additional natural resource test sites that are pertinent to

several State and Federal departments and agencies.

;6) With the introduction of aerial photographic imagery the general

criteria for ground truth site selection, the num:.er of sites being used,

the functional relationship of these sites to the analysis process, the extent

and quality of the ground truth data obtained from these sites, and the types

of earth sciences represented have all been expanded and broadened.. one development of interpretation and analysis techniques of relatively low altitude

aerial photographic imagery in conZunction with the ground truth data obtained

from established sites in the examination of forest and agriculture areas

has had a significant impact on the accumulation of knowledge and the study of

tnedynamics of these.tvo resources.

(7) The time has come to establish and confirm whether or not the

technological and scientific advances which permit detailed examination of

•

these resources can be accomplished practically and economically for economic

purposes. It is vitally important to these scientific endeavors to examine
•

the utility and practicality of forestry and agriculture resource imagery

obtained from very hign altitude, small scale, large landmass coverage in

ccnjunction with ground truth data collection tec.niques.

(8) One technological advancement of recent years has been the introduction

and application of multi-band spectral photography. Through the use of multiple

cameras each with its own unique film and filter combination -- it is practical

to collect multiple images of the same ground using different film filter combinations. Tonal differences on the film will reveal, or provide substantial clues

to the identity of the film-recorded objects. kultiband photography has Increased

the accuracy and meaningfulness of data collectecrhy remote sensing. It has

also increased the scope and complexity of f=m processing, data reduction,

Interpretation techniques and analysis. Multi-spectral photography . is generally

more valuable when analyzed in consideration for and recognition of the subtle

tone cranes. Attempts to obtain higher resolution at lower altitudes frequently

deny the analyst the capability of recognizing these significant tone changes.

(9, One of the problems connected with the use of low altitude, large

scale photography is the relatively his7;... cost of processing and handling the

large quantities of film involved. Photography from very high altitudes permits

•

a significant increase in ground coverage for the same sweep when using a

panoramic camera as compared to the coverage obtainable at lower altitudes

using the same sensing equipment. Savings of major sigr.ificance result from

the large land mass coverage made possible with the current high resolution

censor systems flown at very high altitudes when related. to the =omit of manhours and materials Fequired •In the photo processing, plotting, indexing, and

other ground handling procedures of the same area coverage from low altitude.

(1) By offering to provide very high altitude, small scale photography

of California ground truth test sites the Air Force contribution in furthering

these scientific investigations and research is very significant. The
aircraft offered for this purpose are based in California which petits 11111

advantage being taken of on-going training flights. *By integrating the ground

truth test site phozogxaphic sorties with those training sorties being flown

on a routine basis, the additional costs of acquiring the test site imagery

•

is negligible.

California has extensive industrial, agriculture and forestry -

resources. :t has large water conservation programs and distribution :systems,

mountains, deserts and a long varied coastline. It has exceptionally good

flying weather and a varied, active, existing ground truth test site program.

r..'he state is confronted with a typical cross section of natural and cultural

research problems such as air and water pollution caused 'cy expanding industries

and a growing population.

All of these factors, taken together, are of the utnost Importance.

Bore is an opportunity to demonstrate not only the internal technical interface.' of a controlled scientific investigation of selective resources, but to

develop the techniques and procedures, the knowledge and experience that could

1*,e applied to additional natural and cultural resources. This program Will

permit putting the scientific and technological know-how to work az the right

time, in the right direction and against a specific resources problem.
PERSONKEL

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Associate Interfaces)

1 Secretary (.1.=.1.1rect)

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As Systems Contractor provide integration and coordination

functions between contractors, state agencies and other organizations

involved in the program.

Perform interface functions between associate contractors and

federal agencies in Washington, D.C.

Perform advanced planning for fUture operational activities and

develop-other state earth resources applications.

Provide those services and functions necessary to assure that

security restrictions and other constraints are not violated.

Scioto experiences, knowledge and capabilities gained to limitations

and capabilities of earth resources data and satellite operations.

Coordinate documentation and provide publication services for

production of reports on overall effectiveness and results of the program.

(7) Assist in image interpretation and analysis.

MARK SYSTEMS

Provide field operations, maintenance and services for loading

and unloading sensors.

ProcUre film, perform film handling, processing, annotation and

other essential fUnctions in preparing film for analysis.

(3) Participate in image interpretation and assist in analyses.

(1,) Provide the spectral zonal photographic payload and its support.

4111.111116

(1) Act as advisor to the federal and state governments in technical

and scientific matters pertaining to the total program.
• -2-

•

Serve as Chief Analyst and advisor to users in analyses of

earth resources information.

Establish requirements and act as principal technical advisor

and coordinator in relating colleCted imagery to test site data and

ground truth information.

Assist in examining other possible and potential earth resource

applications for the state.

Critique results.