Radiance Ratio Classification of Earth Surface Features—A Spaceborne Shuttle Experiment

Abstract

New spaceborne technology is being developed for autonomously detecting and classifying four primary Earth features—water, vegetation, and bare land, and a cloud-snow-ice class. Using this technology, a space-based remote imaging system could provide automatic pretransmission screening and selection of remotely sensed information. Classification is based on camera output radiance ratio values. The hardware is relatively small and could be operated in concert with other spaceborne sensors to remotely monitor Earth resources. This paper discusses the technology concept and spaceborne Shuttle test flight results.