Mapping of Soils and Geologic Features with Data from Satellite-Borne Multispectral Scanners

The ERTS-1 satellite provides opportunity for quick inventory and assessment of geologic, soils, and vegetative cover aspects of large-scale areas of the Earth\u27s surface. Collin County, Texas, U.S.A., a 2270 Km² area of relatively simple geology and soil associations was chosen for initial study, using ERTS-1 4-channel multispectral scanner data. These data were analyzed by computer-implemented pattern recognition techniques developed at the Purdue University Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing (LARS). The results indicate excellent visual correlation, on a gross scale, between automatically produced maps and existing geologic and soils maps and field information