USING REMOTE PYROLECTRIC VIDEO FOR GRAVEL DEPOSIT DETECTION

LOCATING NATIVE QUARTZ GRAVEL DEPOSITS WITH THERMAL IMAGERY HAS BEEN FOUND FEASIBLE BY THE USDA FOREST SERVICE SOUTHERN REGION, BUT THE COST OF OBTAINING IMAGERY WITH RESEARCH SCANNERS IS EXCESSIVE AND IMPRACTICAL. THE PYROELECTRIC VIDEO SYSTEM MANUFACTURED BY THE ISI GROUP OFFERS A POTENTIAL LOW COST ALTERNATIVE, BUT NEEDS RESEARCH TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPLICATION. A DUAL CAMERA SYSTEM WITH BANDPASS FILTERS IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE IMAGERY SUITABLE TO GRAVEL DETECTION. LOW RESOLUTION IMAGERY ACQUIRED DURING DRY GROUND CONDITIONS IS REQUIRED TO AVOID INTERFERENCE FROM TEMPERATURE EFFECTS OF VEGETATION CANOPY AND SURFACE MOISTURE. BANDPASS FILTER MOUNTS, AND A DUAL CAMERA MOUNT WITH A CONTROL SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR AIRCRAFT USE WILL BE DEVELOPED. OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM USING SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAMERA LENSES AT DIFFERENT AIR SPEEDS AND AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT ALTITUDES WILL BE STUDIED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT ON RESOLUTION. A STUDY AREA ON THE CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST NEAR ALBUQUERQUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, AND A FLIGHT LINE WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO STUDY THE OPERATION OF THE PYROELECTRIC SYSTEM UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS. THIS AREA IS IDEAL FOR THE STUDY BECAUSE OF THE LOW RAINFALL AND THE PRESENCE OF EXTENSIVE GRAVEL DEPOSITS.