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SELECTING RECONNAISSANCE STRATEGIES FOR FLOODPLAIN SURVEYS 1
Author(s) -
Sollers Scott C.,
Rango Albert,
Henninger Donald L.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1978.tb02173.x
Subject(s) - floodplain , remote sensing , multispectral image , environmental science , multispectral pattern recognition , satellite , aerial survey , scale (ratio) , flood myth , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , geology , cartography , engineering , aerospace engineering , geotechnical engineering , archaeology
Multispectral aircraft and satellite data over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River were analyzed to evaluate potential contributions of remote sensing to floodplain surveys. Multispectral digital classifications of land cover features indicative of floodplain areas were used by interpreters to locate various floodprone area boundaries. The boundaries thus obtained were found to be more striking and continuous in the Landsat data than in the low altitude aircraft data. The digital approach permitted satellite results to be displayed at 1:24,000 scale and aircraft results at even larger scales. Results indicate that remote sensing techniques can delineate floodprone areas more easily in agricultural and limited development areas than in areas covered by a heavy forest canopy. At this time it appears that the remote sensing data would be best used as a form of preliminary planning information or as an internal check on previous or ongoing floodplain studies. In addition, the remote sensing techniques can assist in effectively monitoring floodplain activities after a community enters into the National Flood Insurance Program.