Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 14.3.1
Remote sensing platforms used in coal-mining and coal-fire studies.
Satellite/
sensor
Significance in coal-mining and
coal-fire studies
Satellite category
Characteristics
Operational;
coarse resolution
AVHRR
MODIS
Acquire data in visible through TIR;
spatial resolution varies from 250 m
in visible to 1.1 km in TIR.
Limited application as spatial
resolution is too coarse. Can detect
broad regions of intense burning
and for mapping smoke and haze
over large study areas.
Operational;
medium resolution
ASTER
Landsat
Acquire data in visible through TIR;
spatial resolution varies from 15 m in
panchromatic mode to 120 m in TIR.
Landsat has a broad TIR band, while
ASTER has multispectral TIR bands
Most extensively used image source
for land cover and land use
mapping, surface and underground
fire detection, fire temperature
estimation, and change detection
and mining-impact assessment.
Multispectral TIR bands in ASTER
allows emissivity estimations.
ASTER band 3 is also used for
generating digital elevation
models.
Operational;
medium to fine
resolution
ALOS
SPOT
IRS
Acquire data in visible and near
infrared. Spatial resolution varies
from 2.5m in panchromatic mode to
20m in multispectral mode.
Good for mapping general land cover
including vegetation, soils, rocks,
coal outcrops, coal dumps, urban
areas, water bodies. etc. Lack SWIR
and TIR bands and so not suitable for
coal-fire studies.
Commercial;
operational high
resolution
IKONOS
Quickbird
Acquire data in visible and near
infrared. Spatial resolution varies
from 60 cm in panchromatic mode to
4m in multispectral mode
Useful as base image for mapping
purposes and for geo-referencing
other image data sets (such as
airborne images). Derived land-
cover maps have greater spatial
accuracy. Cracks and fractures can
be mapped.
Past and present
SARsatellites
ERS 1
ERS 2
Radarsat
Acquire data in the microwave region;
Spatial resolution varies from about
8m (pixel size 6.25m), to generally
30m. Coarsest resolution is for
ScanSAR data (100 m).
Provides information complimentary
to the optical and thermal sensors.
Good for studying surface
roughness, soil moisture,
vegetation distribution, and geologic
structures. Used extensively for
generating digital-elevation models
and subsidence studies.
Hyperspectral
satellites with
limited data
acquisition
Hyperion
ALI
DAIS
Hyperspectral data acquired in several
narrow spectral regions from visible
through TIR. Spatial resolution
variable.
Excellent for mapping land-cover
composition. Capable of more
accurately discriminating soil,
rock, and vegetation types, picking
up subtle variations. Potential in
coal-mining studies not fully
exploited.
Experimental
satellite with MIR
and TIR bands
BIRD
Acquire data in MIR and TIR channel at
290m spatial resolution.
A high temperature event detection
satellite of the German Space
Agency. Ideally suited for forest-
fire studies but also very useful for
coal-fire detection.
