Objective: 

Historical aerial photography can be used more effectively in support of Department of Defense Military Munitions Response Project (MMRP) site assessments, specifically practice and demolition bombing range delineation in large areas. The objective of this project is to demonstrate the benefits that can be derived from advanced and novel image processing techniques, with special emphasis on image restoration algorithms to reduce lens and motion blur in historic aerial photography, and digital photogrammetry techniques to generate improved orthophotographs. The potential for improvements in the generation of historical digital elevation models (DEM) from historical photographs also will be evaluated for potential crater detection and mapping.

Technology Description: 

Several geospatial technologies are involved in this project, including digital image processing, digital photogrammetry, photo interpretation, and geographic information system (GIS) database development. Novel technology aspects involve specific algorithm implementations for lens and motion blur removal and nonmetric camera calibration techniques required for the generation of digital orthophotographs, including the generation of DEMs from historic photographs. Image restoration will be applied prior to more standard image enhancements (e.g., contrast and standard image sharpening) as images are preprocessed for digital stereo-viewing and orthophotograph generation. The key issues to be addressed in this project are the added benefit of using (1) image restoration techniques for historic photographs versus current techniques, and (2) best practices (primarily film format and equipment) for photo interpreters and GIS techniques to extract and use this historic information more effectively. In addition to image processing products for image restoration and enhancement, selected DEMs will be prepared from the historic imagery, and the value of custom historic DEMs (versus more current U.S. Geological Survey 10-m DEMs) will be investigated for specific sites. Of specific interest is the potential for generating DEMs that indicate the presence of craters; this is recognized as beyond the specifications for standard DEMs, but motion blur-corrected imagery may provide interesting results in this area. The three-dimensional presence of craters is evident in the historic photographs, even at their limited resolution from high-altitude acquisitions.

Expected Benefits: 

The benefits of improved processing, analysis, and use of historical photography are potentially significant. Ongoing work has identified significant errors in existing formerly used defense site (FUDS) locations that can be resolved through the more systematic use of current best practices as well as the new techniques to be demonstrated. A standard cost-benefit analysis will be undertaken to document project results, and the results will be broadly disseminated to the geospatial community involved in environmental assessments. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2009)

Principal Investigator:

Mr. Larry Tinney

TerraSpectra Geomatics

2700 East Sunset Road, Suite A-10

Las Vegas, NV 89120

Telephone: (702) 795-8254

Fax: (702) 795-2056

E-mail: larry.tinney@terraspectra.com

DoD Liaison:

Mr. Tommy Hunt

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Engineering and Support Center Huntsville

CEHNC-ED-CS-P(GIS)

Huntsville, AL 35807

Telephone: (256) 895-1612

Fax: (256) 895-1602

E-mail: Tommy.J.Hunt@usace.army.mil