LANDSAT remote sensing: observations of an Appalachian mountaintop surface coal mining and reclamation operation

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:6518327

The potential benefits of using LANDSAT remote sensing data by state agencies as an aide in monitoring surface coal mining operations are reviewed. A mountaintop surface mine in eastern Kentucky was surveyed over a 5 year period using satellite multispectral scanner data that were classified by computer analyses. The analyses were guided by aerial photography and by ground surveys of the surface mines procured in 1976. The application of the LANDSAT data indicates that: (1) computer classification of the various landcover categories provides information for monitoring the progress of surface mining and reclamation operations, (2) successive yearly changes in barren and revegetated areas can be qualitatively assessed for surface mines of 100 acres or more of disrupted area, (3) barren areas consisting of limestone and shale mixtures may be recognized, and revegetated areas in various stages of growth may be identified against the hilly forest background.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6518327
• Report Number(s): E-82-10247; NASA-TM-84194; TRN: 83-006253
• Resource Relation: Other Information: REF Original contains color imagery. Original photography may be purchased from the EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57198 Original contains color illustrations ERTS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LAND RECLAMATION
REMOTE SENSING
LANDSAT SATELLITES
SURFACE MINING
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
COAL MINES
COMPUTER CODES
DATA ACQUISITION
IMAGE PROCESSING
KENTUCKY
MAPPING
MULTISPECTRAL PHOTOGRAPHY
FEDERAL REGION IV
MINES
MINING
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
PHOTOGRAPHY
PROCESSING
SATELLITES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
510500* - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)