Aerial Photography - 9 of 18
Aerial Photography FAQs - 18 Found
Color-infrared (CIR) aerial photography, often called false color photography because it renders the scene in other than the normal colors seen by the human eye, is widely used for interpretation of natural resources. Atmospheric haze does not interfere with the acquisition of the image, therefore is well suited to aerial photography. Because the film is high speed and subject to degrees of degradation in handling before exposure, the aerial photographs can vary in overall tone. This variability complicates the interpretation of color tones between photographs. However, some general guidelines can be given to aid the inexperienced interpreter.
The red tone of color infrared aerial photographs is almost always associated with live vegetation. Very intense reds indicate vegetation which is growing vigorously and is quite dense. An irrigated alfalfa field would be an example of such vegetation. An evergreen forest, which may be quite dense vegetatively, will not appear as a similar bright red because its level of growth activity is less, compared to irrigated alfalfa. Knowledge of the vigor and density of vegetation is important to the interpretation of the red colors on color infrared aerial photography.
As the vigor and density of vegetation decreases, the tones may change to light reds and pinks. If plant density becomes low enough the faint reds may be overcome by the tones of the soils on which the plants are growing. The ground areas in this case will appear in shades of white, blue, or green depending on the kind of soil and its moisture content. As plant vigor decreases, the vegetation will show as lighter shades of red and pink, various shades of greens, and possible tans. Dead vegetation, wheat stubble as an example, will often be shades of greens or tans.
Bare soils will appear as shades of white, blue, or green in most agricultural regions. In general, the more moist the soil the darker the shade of that particular soil color. Composition of the soil will affect the color tones shown on the photographs. Dry sand will appear white and, with more moisture, may be very light gray or possibly light tan. Clayey soils will generally be darker in color than sands and tend toward tans and blue greens. Again, wetter clays will be darker shades of the same tones. Soils high in organic matter, like silts and loams will be even darker in color, and usually in shades of blues and greens. Wet organic soils can be very dark blue or green in the aerial photographs.
Man-made features will show in the tones that relate to the materials they are made of. Asphalt roads, for example, will be dark blue or black, gravel or dirt roads will show as lighter colors, depending on the soil materials involved in their composition, and concrete roads will appear light in tone, assuming clean concrete. The buildings and streets of towns can be considered in a similar manner, their color dependent on the material they are made of.
Water will appear as shades of blue, varying from nearly black to very pale blue. Clear, clean water will appear nearly black. As the amount of sediment increases, the color becomes increasingly lighter blue. Very shallow water will often appear as the material present in the bottom of the stream. For example, a very shallow stream with a sandy bottom will appear white due to the high level of reflection of the sand.
Degraded film will result in photographs which have an overall blue or green cast. When that occurs, the interpretation must consider what that overall cast will do to a "normal" rendition of the scene.