Mapping Soil Associations Using ERTS MSS Data

Multispectral imagery from ERTS was compared to a soil association map of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, based on a conventional field survey. Three methods of processing single and multiple wavelength bands were applied to imagery collected on three dates. Correction of geometric distortions in computer-processed imagery was investigated. Four to six groupings of soil associations could be delineated on ERTS imagery. Some associations were more readily delineated using visible wavelengths, some more readily delineated using infrared wavelengths. In general, MSS band 7 was found to give more soils information than MSS band 5. Imagery of single wavelength bands displayed on a television type display system gave greater contrast than photographically processed imagery. Computer processing and display of information from multiple bands is believed to be superior to using single ERTS bands. The present study failed to confirm this hypothesis, primarily because of the combinations of overpass dates, processing methods, and display methods. Computer compatible multispectral data which had geometric distortions removed was superior to distorted data