The Use of Thematic Mapper Data for the Identification and Analysis of Small Island Land Covers: The Case of Block Island

by N. West, Univ of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA,
K. A. Richardson, Univ of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '85

Abstract:

This paper describes the classification (unsupervised) of a portion of the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) scene covering Block Island, Rhode Island and surrounding waters. The Landsat system has developed two operational sensors, the Multispectral Scanner (MSS) consisting of four channels and the Thematic Mapper (TM) which include seven channels or electromagnetic bands. Besides the greater spectral coverages, the TM sensor represents a near fourfold improvement in resolution, making it possible to identify landcover. Since many coastal areas are physically difficult to access or biologically fragile, a remote surveillance system capable of frequent repeat coverage (currently ranging between 8 and 16 days) is particularly valuable.

Subject Headings: Islands | Mapping | Satellites | Probe instruments | Ocean engineering | Data analysis | Channels (waterway) | Rhode Island | United States

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