LANDSAT THEMATIC MAPPER IMAGE MOSAIC OF COLORADO

By Christopher J. Cole, Suzanne M. Noble, Steven L. Blauer, Beverly A. Friesen, and Mark A. Bauer

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3101

2010	

INTRODUCTION:

The U.S. Geological Survey  (USGS) Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center (RMGSC) produced
a seamless, cloud-minimized remotely-sensed image spanning the State of Colorado. Multiple
orthorectified Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) scenes collected during 2006–2008 were
spectrally normalized via reflectance transformation and linear regression based upon
pseudo-invariant features (PIFS)  following the removal of clouds. Individual Landsat
scenes were then mosaicked to form a six-band image composite spanning the visible to
shortwave infrared spectrum. This image mosaic, presented here, will also be used to create
a conifer health classification for Colorado in Scientific Investigations Map 3103.
 
An archive of past and current Landsat imagery exists and is available to the scientific
community (http://glovis.usgs.gov/), but significant pre-processing was required to produce
a statewide mosaic from this information. Much of the data contained perennial cloud cover
that complicated analysis and classification efforts. Existing Landsat mosaic products,
typically three band image composites, did not include the full suite of multispectral
information necessary to produce this assessment, and were derived using data collected
in 2001 or earlier.

A six-band image mosaic covering Colorado was produced. This mosaic includes blue (band 1),
green (band 2), red (band 3), near infrared (band 4), and shortwave infrared information
(bands 5 and 7). The image composite shown here displays three of the Landsat bands
(7, 4, and 2), which are sensitive to the shortwave infrared, near infrared, and green
ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. Vegetation appears green in this image, while water
looks black, and unforested areas appear pink. The explanation shows some generalized
land cover features.

The Landsat mosaic used to produce this map has been modified for publication purposes.
IMAGINE software  (ERDAS, 2009) was used to apply a standard deviation stretch to
increase scene contrast and enhance image interpretation. The proper way to display
this in ArcMap and other
programs is as follows:

      	Red - Band 1 
      	Green - Band 2
      	Blue - Band 3

NOTE:  The lines that may be visible in the on-screen version of the PDF are an artifact
of the export methods used to create this file.  The file should be viewed at 150 percent
zoom or greater for optimum viewing.

DISCLAIMERS:

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only 
and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public 
domain, it also contains copyrighted materials as noted in the text.      
Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other than personal use must 
be secured from the copyright owner.

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at 
the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made 
regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, or for 
general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute 
any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for 
improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.

This database, identified as SIM 3101, has been approved for release and publication by the
Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous
review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise
the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is
released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government
may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or
unauthorized use.


CONTENTS:

00README.txt
SIM3101.pdf
SIM3101.met

Image:
SIM3101_CO_Landsat (.tif/.tfw/)

ancillary_datafiles:

Landsat_PR.shp (.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.dbf/.shp.xml/.shx) -- index of Landsat Thematic Mapper coverage
index_1d.shp (.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.dbf/.shp.xml/.shx)-- 1 degree latitude annd longitude grid
co_bnd.shp (.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.dbf/.shp.xml/.shx)-- Colorado State boundary
TIGER_cty.shp ((.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.dbf/.shp.xml/.shx) -- Colorado counties boundaries
co_hwy.shp (.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.dbf/.shp.xml/.shx) -- major highways and roads in Colorado

landsatpr.e00
index_1d.e00
co_bnd.e00
tiger_cty.e00
co_hwy.e00


VI. INSTRUCTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS REPORT 3101 

To access the data:

The data files can be downloaded via the web from
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3101.
The main product is a Portable Document Format (.pdf) map, which requires
Adobe Acrobat for viewing. Acrobat software runs on a variety of systems, and
is available for download free of charge from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com.

Software Required:
Adobe Acrobat (6.x, 7.x, or 8.x), or Adobe Acrobat Pro (6.x, 7.x, or 8.x), or
The free Adobe Reader (6.x, 7.x, or 8.x) - 8.x is preferred
ArcGIS 9.1 or later preferred, older versions may also work