Both satellite and airborne systems are used throughout the workshop as interpreters hone their skills and learn new techniques in processing and integration. This workshop focuses on imagery recognition of landscape forms, features and patterns that provide solutions to practical problems in applied geosciences. Attendees learn how imagery interpretive skill and experience combined with prior knowledge play dominant roles in identifying and understanding the geologic history and earth processes governing the origin and composition of landforms and landscapes, which lead to knowledge of specific properties and conditions of surface and subsurface soil and rock materials. Participants also remotely sense geologic, geographic, and climatic controls that affect the appearance of landscape features and patterns, then apply this information to solve a wide range of client problems. This introductory workshop presents theoretical concepts of remote sensing and provides hands-on laboratory work using PCI's commercial digital image analysis software to teach participants about the characteristics of remotely sensed data captured by airborne and satellite systems and spectral properties of earth cover types.
Emphasis is on techniques found to be especially useful for geological exploration.
Calibration procedures and problems for solar spectrometers are briefly discussed. Effective methodology for data acquisition, reduction and management in various field environments and applications with case studies are the main focus. These include ground truthing for remote sensing, alteration mineral mapping for precious metals and diamond exploration, vegetation characterization and evaluation, water quality assessment, industrial minerals resource site quality control, mine waste characterization, and mapping. The instructors define the different applications, outline data collection and reduction procedures for field sampling and address the problems to be anticipated and potential solutions. A hands-on session with field instruments allows participants to gain operational experience with different types of field spectrometers.