The supervised reclassification process was a little confusing for me. I wasn't sure how many seed properties I was supposed to use for each class. It was difficult for me to distinguish between some of the classes.

Unsupervised Reclassification

I had a difficult time trying to determine which classes to assign to most of the "green" area. I thought it would be logical that the area so close to the water would be marshy or grassy so I assigned the majority to that class.

Rectification

Geometric rectification is the process of correcting geometric distortions in imagery and assigning geographic coordinates to the image by the use of ground control points. Features that are clearly visible on both the image and map (road intersections, airport runways) are given ground control points in image to map registration. The more control points used the more accurate the results. Errors in rectification can come when discernable features are not available or there is a mistake in intrepretation of the features.

Fort Worth

Provide a brief description of why the following features appear as they do in this thermal image:

Roads, sidewalks and patios appear light in the image because asphalt and concrete hold heat. They hold heat longer than other structures. Warmer items appear lighter in color than cooler ones.

Natural and man-made vegetation appear from light to dark in the image. Depending on the vegetation, a moist yard will be cooler and appear dark. The more a person watered the lawn the greener and more moist it would be. Dryer vegetation or sandy soil will be warmer, have more reflection and appear a lighter color.

Storage sheds appear dark. Most storage sheds do not have a heat source so the roof will be cooler and dark in color.

Automobiles mostly appear dark. The photo was taken in the early morning and most autos were still cool from sitting overnight thus the dark color. A couple of cars have a bright spot which would be the result of a warm engine.

Bright spots on many rooftops are the result of chimneys or vents putting out heat from the houses. The warm air would cause greater reflection and a lighter color.

Comparison of Panchromatic and Multipectral Images

To my eye, the panchromatic image is clearer but the definition between the land and water is not distinct. It is hard to distinguish what the shades of gray in the water represent. The multispectral image has a greater distinction between the land and water. The blue would represent urban area and would represent the development on Marco Island. I do not understand the blue in the water area.

Exercise II

After studying this photo I identified the following items:
1. Golf Course
2. Local Roads
3. Baseball Field
4. Low Land Vegetation
5. Boat Docks
6. Boats on Water
7. Commercial Area
8. Water
9. Cul de Sac
10. Beaches

One of the problems using this type of photo is that the colors are different than what we are used seeing. The vegetation is the most difficult for me to determine. I also think the smaller buildings don't stand out as much as on an aerial photo.

Wind Farm Site in Lake Erie

I selected an area in Lake Erie, Station THL01, as my location for a wind farm. Having lived in Toledo for a while I know how strong the winds can be! On a more scientific note, the planning criteria according to BERR is discussed as follows:
Wind Speed: The wind at this location is steady and ranges from 5 to 25 knots. This is
suitable to be considered for a wind farm.
Ornithology: The migration of birds needs to be considered in the planning process.
According to the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, this location is
in an area of migration for the Dabbling Duck. It is unclear if a wind farm
would cause harm to these ducks. Some ecological organizations feel that
the effects on climate with improved energy sources, it will have a more
positive effect on birds and other wildlife than possible hazards of a wind
farm.
Noise and This site is located approximately 8 miles from the closest shore and noise
Shadow Flicker: should not be a concern for people on shore.
Shipping Impact: Although the ports of Toledo and Detroit are in the vicinity of this site it is
not located in an area that would impede shipping traffic.