Discrimination of geological features using digital and photographic enhancements of Landsat multispectral scanner data

Abstract

A variety of techniques for optically and digitally processing the Landsat multispectral scanner data were applied to scence number 1109-07493 of the Gulf of Suez Area. The results of each of these techniques were compared in order to assess the usefulness of each technique in the interpretation of the Landsat images. The best overall results for this scene were achieved using optically enhanced digital images. The high-bandpass color-infrared image was nearly as good. The intensity, hue and saturation images showed increased contrast between the various geological units, but lacked the fine detail necessary for certain aspects of geological interpretation. These results should equally apply to images of similar ground features but will probably differ when the features are significantly different.