BOREAS Level-0 ER-2 Aerial Photography Summary For BOREAS, the ER-2 and other aerial photography was collected to provide finely detailed and spatially extensive documentation of the condition of the primary study sites. The ER-2 aerial photography consists of color-IR transparencies collected during flights in 1994 and 1996 over the study areas. Note that the level-0 ER-2 photography is 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 photographs. 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 ER-2 Aerial Photography 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 the digital images and aerial photography collected on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) ER-2 aircraft. 1.3 Objective/Purpose For BOREAS, the ER-2 aerial photography, along with the other photography, was collected in order to provide finely detailed and spatially extensive documentation of the condition of the primary study sites. 1.4 Summary of Parameters Level-0 ER-2 aerial photography in color-IR was obtained by the onboard camera system during acquisition of digital images on ER-2 flights in early fall of 1993 and during the 1994 and 1996 digital data collection periods. 1.5 Discussion BOREAS Information System (BORIS) staff processed the level-0 ER-2 aerial photography by: 1) Reviewing the film on the rolls with the flight logs obtained from NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) to check for discrepancies in numbers of frames and coverage 2) Compiling the information into spreadsheets for loading into the online data base 3) Loading the spreadsheet information into data base tables 4) Cross-checking the photographic information against data collected by other instrument systems on the ER-2 aircraft 1.6 Related Data Sets BOREAS Level-0 AOCI Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format BOREAS Level-0 Daedalus TMS Imagery: Digital Counts in BIL Format BOREAS RSS-18 Level-1B AVIRIS Imagery: At-sensor Radiance in BIL Format BOREAS Level-0 C-130 Aerial Photography 2. Investigator(s) 2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title BOREAS Staff 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 Moffett Field, CA (415) 604-6253 (415) 604-4987 (fax) jmyers@msmail.arc.nasa.gov Contact 2 ------------------- Jeffrey A. Newcomer NASA/GSFC Greenbelt, MD (301) 286-7858 (301) 286-0239 (fax) Jeffrey.Newcomer@gsfc.nasa.gov 3. Theory of Measurements The NASA Earth Resources Aircraft Program at ARC operates the ER-2 aircraft to acquire data for Earth science research. The aerial photographic cameras used on the ER-2 are furbished with film, lenses, and filters needed to meet various photographic needs. For BOREAS, the aerial photography was obtained to help provide fine spatial resolution information about the various intensive measurement sites. 4. Equipment 4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description 4.1.1 Collection Environment As part of the BOREAS Staff Science data collection effort, the ARC High Altitude Aircraft Branch collected and processed color-IR aerial photography to BOREAS level-0 products. The various camera systems were flown on NASA's ER-2 aircraft during the BOREAS mission (see the BOREAS Experiment Plan for flight pattern details and objectives). Maintenance and operation of the cameras are the responsibility of ARC. The ER-2 Experimenter's Handbook (supplemental) produced by the High Altitude Aircraft Branch at ARC provides a description of the systems, calibration procedures, and format. 4.1.2 Source/Platform NASA's ER-2 Earth Resources Aircraft. 4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives The purpose of the aerial photography was to provide detailed spatial resolution information about the sites over which various digital scanner data were obtained. 4.1.4 Key Variables Reflected radiation 4.1.5 Principles of Operation A Wild-Heerbrug RC-10 metric mapping camera was used, with the shutter intervalometer set to acquire frames with a 60% forward overlap to provide stereo coverage. 4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry The BOREAS ER-2 flight altitudes ranged from 19,000 to 20,000-m Above Ground Level (AGL). Generally one camera acquired photographs using a 304.89-mm focal- length lens, which resulted in photography at scales rangng from 1:62,000 to 1:65,000. The following are the various lens, film, filter, and exposure combinations used: Camera Focal Length Film Filter F Stop --------- ------------ -------------------- ---------- ------ RC-10 076 304.89 mm Aerochrome IR SO-060 Wratten 12 11 RC-10 034 304.66 mm Aerochrome IR SO-060 Wratten 12 8 The Wild-Heerbrug RC-10 is a metric mapping camera equipped with a shutter intervalometer set to acquire frames with a 60% forward overlap to provide stereo coverage. The RC-10 film can be used to produce standard photogrammetric products or scanned to generate digital orthophotos. Lens: 304.44-mm (12-inch) focal length/f4 Film Format: 240-mm (9.5-inch) 9-inch x 9-inch image area Film Type: Kodak SO-060 Aerochrome IR Filtration: Kodak Wratten 12 Spectral Range: 510-900 nm Shutter Speed: 1/200 Ground Coverage: 15 km x 15 km from ER-2 altitude of 19.8km/65,000 ft Scale: 1:65,000 Resolution: 1.5-4 m (nominal) 4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument Wild-Heerbrug 4.2 Calibration The RC-10 cameras are regularly calibrated by the Optical Science Laboratory of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Reston, VA. 4.2.1 Specifications The wavelength ranges (in micrometers) of film/filter combinations used are: Effective Film Filter Wavelength ------ -------- ------------- Aerochrome IR SO-060 Wratten 12 0.510-0.900 ?m DESIGN DATA: Camera RC-10 076 F-Stop 11 Lens focal length 30.489 cm Camera RC-10 034 F-Stop 8 Lens focal length 30.466 cm 4.2.1.1 Tolerance None given. 4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration The RC-10 cameras are regularly calibrated by the Optical Science Laboratory of the USGS in Reston, VA. 4.2.3 Other Calibration Information None given. 5. Data Acquisition Methods As part of the BOREAS Staff Science data collection effort, the ARC High Altitude Aircraft Branch collected and processed color-IR aerial photography to BOREAS level-0 products. The various camera systems were flown on NASA's ER-2 aircraft during the BOREAS mission (see the BOREAS Experiment Plan for flight pattern details and objectives). Maintenance and operation of the cameras are the responsibility of ARC. The ER-2 Experimenter's Handbook (supplemental) produced by the High Altitude Aircraft Branch at ARC provides a description of the systems, calibration procedures, and format. 6. Observations 6.1 Data Notes None. 6.2 Field Notes Flight summary reports are available. 7. Data Description 7.1 Spatial Characteristics The BOREAS level-0 photographic images cover portions of the Northern Study Area (NSA) and the Southern Study Area (SSA). A few photographs 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 BOREAS region. 7.1.1 Spatial Coverage The North American Date in 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 No available. 7.1.3 Spatial Resolution The BOREAS ER-2 flight altitudes ranged from 19,000 to 20,000-m AGL. Generally, one camera acquired photographs using a 304.8-mm focal-length lens, which resulted in photography at scales ranging from 1:62,000 to 1:65,000. The ground resolution is nominally 1.5-4 m. 7.1.4 Projection Not applicable. 7.1.5 Grid Description Not applicable. 7.2 Temporal Characteristics 7.2.1 Temporal Coverage The photographs were collected during BOREAS' three Intensive Field Campaigns (IFC's) and the Focused Field Campaign-Thaw (FFC-T) covering the period from 12- Apr-1994 through 19-Sep-1994. 7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map Not available. 7.2.3 Temporal Resolution Images were acquired at the following range of dates for each campaign. Dates -------------------------- 12-Apr-1994 -- 02-May-1994 24-May-1994 -- 16-Jun-1994 19-Jul-1994 -- 08-Aug-1994 30-Aug-1994 -- 19-Sep-1994 07-Mar-1996 14-Aug-1996 7.3 Data Characteristics Data characteristics are defined in the companion data definition file (er2photo.def). 7.4 Sample Data Record Sample data format shown in the companion data definition file (er2photo.def). 8. Data Organization 8.1 Data Granularity The smallest orderable unit of data for level-0 ER-2 photography is an individual photographic frame. The frames are attached together on a large roll delivered by ARC to BORIS at GSFC. All of the ER-2 and other aerial photography are contained in one dataset. 8.2 Data Format(s) The 9-inch x 9-inch (229-mm x 229-mm) photographs from single or multiple flight lines are attached together on a large roll delivered by ARC to BORIS at GSFC. Review of the film using a light table is encouraged before ordering copies. The CD-ROM inventory listing file consists of numerical and character fields of varying length separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with a single apostrophe marks. There are no spaces between the fields. Sample inventory data records are shown in the companion data definition file (er2photo.def). 9. Data Manipulations 9.1 Formulae 9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms Standard photographic processing of the original negatives to positive transparancies was performed based on the manufacturers film developing specifications. 9.2 Data Processing Sequence 9.2.1 Processing Steps BORIS staff processed the level-0 ER-2 aerial photography by 1) Reviewing the film on the rolls with the flight logs obtained from ARC to check for discrepancies in numbers of frames and coverage 2) Compiling the information into spreadsheets for loading into the online data base 3) Loading the spreadsheet information into data base tables 4) Cross-checking the photographic information against data collected by other data systems on the ER-2 aircraft 9.2.2 Processing Changes None. 9.3 Calculations 9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments None. 9.3.2 Calculated Variables Not applicable. 9.4 Graphs and Plots None. 10. Errors 10.1 Sources of Error None given. 10.2 Quality Assessment 10.2.1 Data Validation by Source Ames and BORIS personnel reviewed the film for overall quality by viewing the resultant photographic images. 10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment Confidence is high that the photographs do in fact cover the areas that are indicated in the flight logs and that the film, filter, and lenses shown are the ones that were used. 10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters None. 10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments None. 10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center BORIS staff processed the level-0 ER-2 aerial photography by: 1) Reviewing the film on the rolls with the flight logs obtained from ARC to check for discrepancies in numbers of frames and coverage 2) Compiling the information into spreadsheets for loading into the online data base 3) Loading the spreadsheet information into data base tables 4) Cross-checking the photographic information against data collected by other data systems on the ER-2 aircraft 11. Notes 11.1 Limitations of the Data To date, no discrepancies or problems have been noted in the film. 11.2 Known Problems with the Data None. 11.3 Usage Guidance None. 11.4 Other Relevant Information None. 12. Application of the Data Set The photography can be used in conjunction with other digital image data as ground truth for various land cover analyses. 13. Future Modifications and Plans None. 14. Software 14.1 Software Description While reviewing the film and flight logs, BORIS personnel compiled information in Excel spreadsheet files for use in loading the online data base. The Excel spreadsheet files were then loaded into the data base with existing Oracle utilities. 14.2 Software Access Contact Microsoft or Oracle Corporation. 15. Data Access 15.1 Contact for Data Center/Data Access Information These BOREAS data are available from the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOS-DIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). The BOREAS contact at ORNL is: ORNL DAAC User Services Oak Ridge National Laboratory (865) 241-3952 ornldaac@ornl.gov ornl@eos.nasa.gov 15.2 Procedures for Obtaining Data BOREAS data may be obtained through the ORNL DAAC World Wide Web site at http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/ or users may place requests for data by telephone, electronic mail, or fax. 15.3 Output Products and Availability Requested data can be provided electronically on the ORNL DAAC's anonymous FTP site or on various media including, CD-ROMs, 8-MM tapes, or diskettes. The complete set of BOREAS data CD-ROMs, entitled "Collected Data of the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study", edited by Newcomer, J., et al., NASA, 1999, are also available. 16. Output Products and Availability 16.1 Tape Products Not applicable to photographic images. 16.2 Film Products Color-IR aerial photographs and video records were collected. The video record includes pilot-to-ground conversations and an audible tone that was initiated each time the digital scanner systems were triggered. The BOREAS data base contains an inventory of available BOREAS aircraft flight documentation, such as flight logs and videos. 16.3 Other Products Although the photograph inventory is contained on the BOREAS CD-ROM set, the actual level-0 ER-2 photographs are not. See section 15 for information about how to obtain the data. 17. References 17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation NASA. 1990. ER-2 Earth Resources Aircraft Experimenter's Handbook. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, California. Airborne Instrumentation Research Project. Flight Summary Reports for Flight No. 94-079 to 94-143 or April 19, 1994 to September 17, 1994. NASA Ames Research Center, Airborne Missions and Applications Division, Moffett Field, California. 94035. 17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1994. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1994-3.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 94). Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: Experiment Plan. Version 1996-2.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 96). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K. F. Huemmrich. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1994 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 94). Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1997. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1996 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC 96). Sellers, P., F. Hall, H. Margolis, B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi, G. den Hartog, J. Cihlar, M.G. Ryan, B. Goodison, P. Crill, K. J. Ranson, D. Lettenmaier, and D. E. Wickland. 1995. The boreal ecosystem-atmosphere study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 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, and F. E. Guertin. 1997. BOREAS in 1997: Experiment Overview, Scientific Results and Future Directions. Journal of Geophysical Research 102 (D24): 28, 731-28,770. 17.3 Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation The collected data of BOREAS are currently archived at NASA/GSFC. 18. Glossary of Terms None. 19. List of Acronyms AGL - Above Ground Level ARC - Ames Research Center BOREAS - BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study BORIS - BOREAS Information System DAAC - Distributed Active Archive Center EOS - Earth Observing System EOSDIS - EOS Data and Information System FFC-T - Focused Field Campaign - Thaw GSFC - Goddard Space Flight Center IFC - Intensive Field Campaign IFOV - Instantaneous Field-of-View IR - Infrared NAD93 - North American Date in 1983 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration NSA - Northern Study Area ORNL - Oak Ridge National Laboratory PANP - Prince Albert National Park SSA - Sourther Study Area TMS - Thematic Mapper Simulator URL - Uniform Resource Locator USGS - U. S. Geological Survey 20. Document Information 20.1 Document Revision Dates Written: 02-Aug-1995 Last Updated: 26-Feb-1998 20.2 Document Review Dates BORIS Review: 20-May-1997 Science Review: 20-May-1997 20.3 Document ID 20.4 Citation The BOREAS level-0 ER-2 photography was collected and processed by personnel at the High Altitude Aircraft Branch at NASA ARC. Their contributions to providing this data set are greatly appreciated. 20.5 Document Curator 20.6 Document URL Keywords AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY ER-2 REFLECTED RADIATION ER2_PHOTO_L0.doc 04/17/98