Date of Award:

5-1979

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department name when degree awarded

Electrical Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Clair Wyatt

Committee

Clair Wyatt

Committee

Doran Baker

Committee

Inge Dirmhirn

Committee

David R. Anderson

Abstract

This study was performed to determine the spectral signatures of deer and their natural background elements for censusing purposes. Consideration was given to atmospheric transmittance, acceptable flying weather, and terrain. Possible spectral bands between 0.3 and 14.0 μm were obtained (over a pathlength of 1500 feet at an altitude of 5000 feet) based upon atmospheric transmittance using the LOWTRAN 3B computer program. They are: 0.30 - 1.33, 1.49 - 1.79, 2.00 - 2.50, 3.00 - 3.16, 3.38 - 4.10, 4.59 - 5.05, and 8.00 - 13.33 μm, for transmittance greater than 75%. Weather conditions are favorable for flying and taking data on the average of 2 days per week (in areas near Salt Lake City) throughout the winter months. Measurements were obtained of the spectral reflectance and spectral emissivity of deer hide, sands, soils, sage brush, and other natural winter habitat elements. The results of these measurements indicate that all the biological samples tested emit blackbody radiation; that is, the emissivity is approximately unity and there are no unique spectral signatures. The reflected spectra in the region 0.5 to 1.1 μm contains considerable unique spectra, including chlorophyll absorption at 0.66 μm, that might be useful in designing a multispectral classifier.

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