Wild res Scorch Pampas Region of Argentina

100 Pages·2017·27.1 MB·English

PE&RS
February 2017 Volume 83, Number 2
Wildfires Scorch Pampas
Region of Argentina
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January 7, 2017
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http://conferences.asprs.org/Baltimore-2017 Workshops Sessions on
A complimentary workshop is included with every • 3D Surfaces from Imagery
full registration • Agricultural and Environmental Applications of UAS
ASPRS Annual Meeting 2017 • Photogrammetry on the Cloud: Challenges and • Big Data Situational Awareness – Emergency
Opportunities Management and Beyond
Imaging Today for a Smarter Tomorrow • Precision Mapping by UAS: Theory and Applications • Big Data Sources and Methods
• Preparing for the ASPRS Certification Exam • Cartography and GIS (CaGIS)
March 12–16, 2017 • GBDX: Geospatial Big Data Platform: Performing • Emerging 3D Mobile
Imagery Analysis at Scale • Forest Applications
Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland • Methods for the Quality Assurance of LiDAR Point • Geiger-mode/Single Photon Lidar
Clouds and Breaklines for Floodplain Modeling • High-resolution land cover: presentations and
UAS Hands-On EXCITING SPEAKERS • Imagery Triangulation and Sensor Calibration for discussion
Mapping Workshop Manned and Unmanned Aerial Systems • Image Registration Approaches
Thursday, March 16, 2017 • Drone2Map for ArcGIS Hands on Workshop • Lidar Acquisition Issues
from 1 to 6 PM. Kass Green • Geospatial Big Data Platform: Performing Imagery • Lidar Data Extraction
President of Kass Green & Associates
This 5-hour workshop will Analysis at Scale • Lidar Data Quality
http://www.kassgreen.com
provide a classroom setting • Hyperspectral and Extended Multispectral Remote • Mapping for Human and Environmental Safety
Deemed a “rock star of remote sensing” by Directions
with knowledgeable instructors Sensing: Phenomenology, Sensor Systems, and Data • Mapping, Monitoring and Education
Magazine, her research and accomplishments in mapping
leading attendees through the Processing • Mapping, monitoring, and measuring landscapes
and GIS are world renowned.
steps of map production using • Object-based image analysis of natural land cover • NASA DEVELOP National Program
drone data, including mission • Esri Remote Sensing APPathon • New Sensors
Dr. Patrick Meier
planning, data acquisition, • Field Data Collection Techniques for the • Object-based Image Analysis
Founder of iRevolutions
and data processing. The Development of Remote Sensing Ground Truth, • Past, Present, and Future of aerial camera systems,
https://irevolutions.org/bio/
data processing segment Including "the Most Accurate, Least Expensive, and use, and calibration
Humanitarian Crisis Mapping with Aerial and Space Robot-
includes image georeferencing, ics: This talk draws on real-world examples to illustrate how Most Easily Applied" Method • Point and 3D Model Extraction and Analysis
elevation modeling, orthophoto autonomous robotics like drones and satellites are being • Hyperspectral Imaging Standards Workshop • Remote sensing image quality and enhancement
generation, topographic and used in a wide range of humanitarian crisis mapping efforts. • Photogrammetry on the Cloud: Challenges and • UASD/PDAD Precision Mapping by UAS
planimetric mapping, and quality Opportunities • Urban Solar Thermal Analysis
control of the final mapping • Generic Sensor Model for Optical Line Scanners and • User Needs and Surveys
products. Those attending Jack Dangermond Framers • Wetland mapping and coastal bathymetry
should possess entry level President of Esri • Techniques to Evaluate Terrestrial Laser Scanners …and more!
fundamental understanding of Dangermond fostered the growth of ESRI from a small • Lidar Geometric Accuracy Assessment
remote sensing data processing. research group to an organization recognized as the world • UAS Hands-On Mapping Workshop
Instructors will be from Applanix, leader in GIS software development employing 2,700
Icaros, Pix4D, Simactive, people in the U.S.
STEM Activities Registration Fees
GeoCue, Navmatica,
Microdrones and GeoWing • Future of Geospatial Workforce • ASPRS Member: Full $550
Mapping. • Web Enabled Remote Sensing Education • ASPRS Member: Daily $300
Keith Masback
• Advancing Geospatial Science Education in Maryland • ASPRS Member Speaker: Full $ 500
CEO United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
• Personal Assessment Tools for Geospatial Knowledge • ASPRS Member Student: Full $150
HotTopic — Shaping (USGIF)
Gaps • ASPRS Member Student: Daily $75
the Future of Smart Keith will discuss USGIF community activities in his pre-
• America View STEM Panel • Non-Member: Full $ 750
sentation: Advances in Remote Sensing within the GEOINT
Cities and Autonomous
• Non-Member: Daily $400
Revolution.
Other Activities
Vehicles: The Role • Non-Member Speaker $600
of the Geospatial • Classified Session • Non-Member Student: Full $200
Stan Hovey
Industry ASPRS Emeritus Member • Poster Sessions • Non-Member Student: Daily $200
• Networking Events • Exhibits Only: One Day $35
Moderator: Dr. Qassim Abdullah, Stan will present and discuss a four-pronged approach for • Hot Topic - Wednesday Afternoon • Exhibits Only: Two Day $50
Woopert, Inc. ASPRS to implement for general STEM development resulting • Social Functions
in ASPRS benefits and Baltimore STEM DAY efforts.
Preliminary program is now available!
Current Exhibitors & Sponsors
http://conferences.asprs.org/Baltimore-2017/schedule/
Don't miss out! Cardinal Systems | Blue Marble Geographics | Trimble | GeoCue | GeoWing
There is still time to sign up. Mapping Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc. | MDPI | nFrames GmbH | SAM, LLC
University of Maryland—GEOG | Woolpert Presented by
Contact Bill Spilman, The American Society for
[email protected] Media Partners Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing
GeoConnexion | POB | xyHt www.asprs.org
IGTF 2017 2 page ad v2.indd 593 1/24/2017 11:35:10 AM IGTF 2017 2 page ad v2.indd 594 1/24/2017 11:35:13 AM
http://conferences.asprs.org/Baltimore-2017 Workshops Sessions on
A complimentary workshop is included with every • 3D Surfaces from Imagery
full registration • Agricultural and Environmental Applications of UAS
ASPRS Annual Meeting 2017 • Photogrammetry on the Cloud: Challenges and • Big Data Situational Awareness – Emergency
Opportunities Management and Beyond
Imaging Today for a Smarter Tomorrow • Precision Mapping by UAS: Theory and Applications • Big Data Sources and Methods
• Preparing for the ASPRS Certification Exam • Cartography and GIS (CaGIS)
March 12–16, 2017 • GBDX: Geospatial Big Data Platform: Performing • Emerging 3D Mobile
Imagery Analysis at Scale • Forest Applications
Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland • Methods for the Quality Assurance of LiDAR Point • Geiger-mode/Single Photon Lidar
Clouds and Breaklines for Floodplain Modeling • High-resolution land cover: presentations and
UAS Hands-On EXCITING SPEAKERS • Imagery Triangulation and Sensor Calibration for discussion
Mapping Workshop Manned and Unmanned Aerial Systems • Image Registration Approaches
Thursday, March 16, 2017 • Drone2Map for ArcGIS Hands on Workshop • Lidar Acquisition Issues
from 1 to 6 PM. Kass Green • Geospatial Big Data Platform: Performing Imagery • Lidar Data Extraction
President of Kass Green & Associates
This 5-hour workshop will Analysis at Scale • Lidar Data Quality
http://www.kassgreen.com
provide a classroom setting • Hyperspectral and Extended Multispectral Remote • Mapping for Human and Environmental Safety
Deemed a “rock star of remote sensing” by Directions
with knowledgeable instructors Sensing: Phenomenology, Sensor Systems, and Data • Mapping, Monitoring and Education
Magazine, her research and accomplishments in mapping
leading attendees through the Processing • Mapping, monitoring, and measuring landscapes
and GIS are world renowned.
steps of map production using • Object-based image analysis of natural land cover • NASA DEVELOP National Program
drone data, including mission • Esri Remote Sensing APPathon • New Sensors
Dr. Patrick Meier
planning, data acquisition, • Field Data Collection Techniques for the • Object-based Image Analysis
Founder of iRevolutions
and data processing. The Development of Remote Sensing Ground Truth, • Past, Present, and Future of aerial camera systems,
https://irevolutions.org/bio/
data processing segment Including "the Most Accurate, Least Expensive, and use, and calibration
Humanitarian Crisis Mapping with Aerial and Space Robot-
includes image georeferencing, ics: This talk draws on real-world examples to illustrate how Most Easily Applied" Method • Point and 3D Model Extraction and Analysis
elevation modeling, orthophoto autonomous robotics like drones and satellites are being • Hyperspectral Imaging Standards Workshop • Remote sensing image quality and enhancement
generation, topographic and used in a wide range of humanitarian crisis mapping efforts. • Photogrammetry on the Cloud: Challenges and • UASD/PDAD Precision Mapping by UAS
planimetric mapping, and quality Opportunities • Urban Solar Thermal Analysis
control of the final mapping • Generic Sensor Model for Optical Line Scanners and • User Needs and Surveys
products. Those attending Jack Dangermond Framers • Wetland mapping and coastal bathymetry
should possess entry level President of Esri • Techniques to Evaluate Terrestrial Laser Scanners …and more!
fundamental understanding of Dangermond fostered the growth of ESRI from a small • Lidar Geometric Accuracy Assessment
remote sensing data processing. research group to an organization recognized as the world • UAS Hands-On Mapping Workshop
Instructors will be from Applanix, leader in GIS software development employing 2,700
Icaros, Pix4D, Simactive, people in the U.S.
STEM Activities Registration Fees
GeoCue, Navmatica,
Microdrones and GeoWing • Future of Geospatial Workforce • ASPRS Member: Full $550
Mapping. • Web Enabled Remote Sensing Education • ASPRS Member: Daily $300
Keith Masback
• Advancing Geospatial Science Education in Maryland • ASPRS Member Speaker: Full $ 500
CEO United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
• Personal Assessment Tools for Geospatial Knowledge • ASPRS Member Student: Full $150
HotTopic — Shaping (USGIF)
Gaps • ASPRS Member Student: Daily $75
the Future of Smart Keith will discuss USGIF community activities in his pre-
• America View STEM Panel • Non-Member: Full $ 750
sentation: Advances in Remote Sensing within the GEOINT
Cities and Autonomous
• Non-Member: Daily $400
Revolution.
Other Activities
Vehicles: The Role • Non-Member Speaker $600
of the Geospatial • Classified Session • Non-Member Student: Full $200
Stan Hovey
Industry ASPRS Emeritus Member • Poster Sessions • Non-Member Student: Daily $200
• Networking Events • Exhibits Only: One Day $35
Moderator: Dr. Qassim Abdullah, Stan will present and discuss a four-pronged approach for • Hot Topic - Wednesday Afternoon • Exhibits Only: Two Day $50
Woopert, Inc. ASPRS to implement for general STEM development resulting • Social Functions
in ASPRS benefits and Baltimore STEM DAY efforts.
Preliminary program is now available!
Current Exhibitors & Sponsors
http://conferences.asprs.org/Baltimore-2017/schedule/
Don't miss out! Cardinal Systems | Blue Marble Geographics | Trimble | GeoCue | GeoWing
There is still time to sign up. Mapping Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc. | MDPI | nFrames GmbH | SAM, LLC
University of Maryland—GEOG | Woolpert Presented by
Contact Bill Spilman, The American Society for
[email protected] Media Partners Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing
GeoConnexion | POB | xyHt www.asprs.org
IGTF 2017 2 page ad v2.indd 593 1/24/2017 11:35:10 AM IGTF 2017 2 page ad v2.indd 594 1/24/2017 11:35:13 AM
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EVENTS ANNOUNCEMENT
RSCy2017 - Fifth International Conference on Remote SPECTRAL EVOLUTION PSR-1100 used in glaciology
Sensing and Geo-information of Environment — The summer program at Juneau Icefield Research Program. Stu-
Organizing Committee of the ‘Fifth International Conference dents get hands on experience understanding the relationship
on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation of Environment’ in- between solar radiation, glaciers, and melt.
vite you to join us in Cyprus from 20-23 March, 2017 to net- The Juneau Icefield Research Program (IIRP) provides an
work with leading experts in the field of Remote Sensing and unrivaled educational and expeditionary experience in the
Geo-information. Coast Mountains of Alaska for undergraduate and graduate
The Keynote Speakers and thought-provoking technical students in Earth sciences. This year, Dr. Allen Pope and his
program will encourage the exchange of ideas and provide students were able to take along a PSR-1100 spectroradiome-
the foundation for future collaboration and innovation. The ter from Spectral Evolution to study the effects of solar radia-
Technical Program is open to all topics in Remote Sensing and tion on glacier melt.
Geo-information of Environment and related techniques and The PSR-1100 is a lightweight spectroradiometer with a
applications. spectral range from 320-1100 nanometers. It can store up to
Please go to the RSCy2017 website for information http:// 2500 scans in standalone mode making it an excellent choice
www.cyprusremotesensing.com/rscy2017/. for field work. The PSR-1100 can be operated with one hand
and measures the amount of visible and near-infrared light
SGEM2017 - 17th International Multidisciplinary being reflected and absorbed by a surface.
Scientific GeoConference & Expo — The 17th Interna- Under the direction of Dr. Pope, students were able to collect
tional Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference & EXPO measurements from white snow, snow that was darkened by
SGEM2017, will be held 27 June – 06 July, 2017 in Paradise algae or other factors, pools of water, red algae and some local
Blue Congress Center, Albena Resort & SPA, Bulgaria. Where rock samples. The collected data was downloaded to laptops
scientists, educators and practitioners, representing research for analysis with Excel or Matlab. Students were encouraged
and educational institutions, companies, governmental agen- to calculate average reflectance, albedo and radiative forcing.
cies and consulting organizations from all over the world come According to Dr. Pope, radiative forcing is especially important
together to exchange ideas, to define the research priorities in understanding glacier melt since a darker glacier surface
in the above fields and to propose potential solutions to prob- absorbs more energy and melts more snow and ice.
lems related to the global changes. SGEM considers matters
For more information on the PSR-100, go to: http://www.
concerned with Geology and Mining, Oil and Gas, Geodesy,
spectralevolution.com/lightweight_portable_battery_operat-
Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, GIS, Informatics, Geoin-
ed_spectrometer.html
formatics, Micro and Nanotechnologies, Water resources, Air
To read more about JIRP, go to: http://juneauicefield.com/.
and Climate, Ecosystems, Soils, Renewable Energy, Environ-
mental Protection, Environmental Economics, Nano and Bio
Technologies, Green Buildings Design and Architecture, Plan-
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70 February 2017 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
The official journal for imaging and geospatial information science and technology
February 2017 Volume 83 Number 2
FEATURES
73 Geospatial Science Learning: In STEM and Advocacy for Girls
and Women
Amanda D. Aragón, Melissa J. Rura, and Rebecca Morton
Amanda Aragón led a hands-on geospatial science learning experience, where sixty girls
from the state of New Mexico were interviewed and selected for the week-long learning
accelerated experience on the campus of New Mexico Institute of Technology in Socorro,
New Mexico. In addition to robotics, computer science, biology and other areas of research,
they participated in the “Pixel Matrix,” an interactive, youth, group learning activity to
promote understanding and cognitive skills by integrating remote sensing and geography
skills with a hands-on learning experience.
COLUMNS ANNOUNCEMENTS DEPARTMENTS
77 SectorInsights.com 69 IGTF 2017 70 Industry News
79 Book Review — European Landscape 83 Headquarters News 78 Certification
Dynamics: Corine Land Cover Data ASPRS announces candidates for vice-president, new Stand Out From the Rest! Newly certified and re-certified
corporate member GeoWing Mapping, new advertising/ professionals.
81 Grids and Datums
exhibit sales representative, and February to April 2017
108 Who’s Who in ASPRS
This month we look at the Republic of Ecuador.
GeoBytes.
152 ASPRS Corporate Members
84 New ASPRS Members
Join us in welcoming our newest members to ASPRS. 162 ASPRS Media Kit
86 Special Issue Call for Papers—
Remote Sensing of Urban Environment
PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES
87 Shadow Identification in High Resolution Satellite 123 On the Fusion of Lidar and Aerial Color Imagery
Images in the Presence of Water Regions to Detect Urban Vegetation and Buildings
Y. Mostafa and A. Abdelhafiz Madhurima Bandyopadhyay, Jan A.N. van Aardt, Kerry Cawse-Nicholson, and Emmett
A novel index with automatic threshold to classify satellite images into shadow, water, Ientilucci
and non-shadow pixels. Details of the accurate and spatially consistent detection of vegetation and building
in urban environments using a fusion-based approach, by combining complimentary
95 Aerial Lidar Point Cloud Voxelization with
characteristics of Lidar and aerial color (RGB) imagery.
its 3D Ground Filtering Application
137 Automatic 3D Surface Co-Registration
Liying Wang, Yan Xu, and Yu Li
Using Keypoint Matching
A binary voxel-based data (BVD) model is proposed to reconstruct aerial lidar point cloud
Ravi Ancil Persad and Costas Armenakis
and based on the constructed model 3D ground filtering is developed for separating
A novel approach for the automatic alignment of 3D point cloud surfaces by matching
ground points from not-ground points.
keypoint surface descriptors.
109 Integrating Multiple Textural Features for
Remote Sensing Image Change Detection 153 Using Relative Orientation to Improve the Accuracy
Qingyu Li, Xin Huang, Dawei Wen, and Hui Liu of Exterior Orientation Parameters of Low Cost POS
A multi-texture change detection method integrating macro- and micro-texture features. Wenlin Yan, Luísa Bastos, Sérgio Madeira, Américo Magalhães, and José A. Gonçalves
A simple and inexpensive POS for the application of light airborne platforms was
developed, and a new Kalman Filter was designed to integrate GNSS/IMU/Image,
which is using the relative orientation information to improve the accuracy of exterior
orientation parameters.
See the Cover Description on Page 72
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING February 2017 71
COVER DESCRIPTION
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING
& REMOTE SENSING
Wildfires Scorch Pampas Region of Argentina
Since mid-December 2016, roughly two dozen wildfires in the Pampas region of
Argentina have consumed almost 2.5 million acres while unleashing giant plumes Journal Staff
of dense smoke above the rural landscapes.
Publisher ASPRS
Likely caused by thunderstorms that followed a stretch of severe drought in the Editor-In-Chief Alper Yilmaz
winter and spring of 2016, the first fires started southwest of the city of Bahía Blan- Technical Editor Michael S. Renslow
ca. A scene from Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) on December 22, 2016, Assistant Editor Jie Shan
Assistant Director — Publications Rae Kelley
shows smaller red burn scars from those initial blazes—an area of approximately
Electronic Publications Manager/Graphic Artist Matthew Austin
100,000 acres.
Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing is the official journal of the
Despite rain in the final days of December, a handful of hot spots persisted, and the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. It is devoted to the
fires spread. When it passed overhead on January 7, 2017, OLI captured dramatic exchange of ideas and information about the applications of photogrammetry,
remote sensing, and geographic information systems. The technical activities of
imagery of large red burn scars across the landscape of Argentina’s central province the Society are conducted through the following Technical Divisions: Geographic
of La Pampa, and its southern province of Rio Negro. Information Systems, Photogrammetric Applications, Lidar, Primary Data
Acquisition, Professional Practice, and Remote Sensing Applications. Additional
On January 5, 2017, the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, of which information on the functioning of the Technical Divisions and the Society can
be found in the Yearbook issue of PE&RS.
USGS is a member, granted Argentina’s request for Charter members’ available
Correspondence relating to all business and editorial matters pertaining to this
satellite data to help in rapidly assessing the extent of damage and determining a
and other Society publications should be directed to the American Society for
disaster response Wildfires Scorch Pampas Region of Argentina Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 425 Barlow Place, Suite 210, Bethesda,
Maryland 20814-2144, including inquiries, memberships, subscriptions, changes
Since mid-December 2016, roughly two dozen wildfires in the Pampas region of in address, manuscripts for publication, advertising, back issues, and publica-
Argentina have consumed almost 2.5 million acres while unleashing giant plumes tions. The telephone number of the Society Headquarters is 301-493-0290; the
fax number is 301-493-0208; web address is www.asprs.org.
of dense smoke above the rural landscapes.
PE&RS. PE&RS (ISSN0099-1112) is published monthly by the American
Likely caused by thunderstorms that followed a stretch of severe drought in the Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite
210, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-2144. Periodicals postage paid at Bethesda,
winter and spring of 2016, the first fires started southwest of the city of Bahía Blan- Maryland and at additional mailing offices.
ca. A scene from Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) on December 22, 2016, SUBSCRIPTION. For the 2017 subscription year, ASPRS is offering two options
shows smaller red burn scars from those initial blazes—an area of approximately to our PE&RS subscribers — an e-Subscription and the print edition. E-sub-
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100,000 acres.
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January through December. Electronic subscriptions run for twelve months on
Despite rain in the final days of December, a handful of hot spots persisted, and the
an anniversary basis. We recommend that customers who choose both e-Sub-
fires spread. When it passed overhead on January 7, 2017, OLI captured dramatic scription and print (e-Subscription + Print) renew on a calendar-year basis.
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issues of PE&RS for online subscribers through the same portal at no addi-
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The rate of the e-Subscription (digital) Site License Only for USA and For-
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72 February 2017 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
Geospatial Science Learning:
STEM a G W
In and dvocacy for Irls and omen
By Amanda D. Aragón, Melissa J. Rura, and Rebecca Morton
I who also share a passion for AAUW and the advancement of
ntroductIon equity for women and the promotion of Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for young
In America when we think of a person who makes maps most
women. Amanda D. Aragón is the sitting chair of the ASPRS
often what comes to mind has some combination of traits of
Student Advisory Council and a graduate student at New
Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, who bravely defined
Mexico Highlands University in Environmental Science and
our “Mason / Dixon Line,” or Gerardus Mercator who gave
Anthropology. Dr. Melissa J. Rura serves as the Book Review
us the “Mercator Projections”. One might say our mental
Editor for Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
archetype would be the “mathematical outdoorsman” or the
(PE&RS), the academic journal of the American Society for
“mathematical artist.” A healthy robust man of intellect
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). Rebecca
prepared for adventure. ASPRS has many healthy robust
(Becky) Morton is the incoming president of ASPRS and the
young adventures, both men and women, who work every day
President and CEO of GeoWing Mapping Inc.
to make our world maps both in the office and in the field.
As we continue to diversify as a community, we would like
to share how we are working to engage our young women
in the adventure of map making. The American Association Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing
of University Women (AAUW) has a vision and it is simple: Vol. 83, No. 2, February 2017, pp. 73–76.
0099-1112/17/73–76
“We bring people together for the common goal of breaking
© 2017 American Society for Photogrammetry
through educational and economic barriers for women and
and Remote Sensing
girls.” The authors of this article are active ASPRS leaders doi: 10.14358/PERS.83.2.73
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING February 2017 73
t asPrs aauW in Oakland experience a stressful and sometimes dangerous
eamInG WIth
school environment which often fails to nurture their drive
Encouraged to join the AAUW as an undergraduate math toward learning and achievement. The young women selected
student by three math professors, Dr. Renee Fister, Dr. for Tech Trek are selected by their teachers because they have
Maeve McCarthy, and Dr. Darla Kremer, Dr. Melissa Rura tremendous potential and the pool of candidates is always
has been a member of AAUW for many years. She fondly many times larger than the available scholarships. This year
remembers her first AAUW sponsored activity, a trip to (2016) the Oakland-Piedmont Branch sent twelve young
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory with these professors women from the Oakland school district to Sonoma State
in the late 90’s and her first exposure to the National Lab University on a full scholarship for a week-long hands-on
system. As a young woman being guided into an academic STEM learning experience.
path she was both inspired and dismayed to hear and see the
“barriers for women and girls” in math, science, engineering As part of an initiative of outreach to the ASPRS community to
and technology from both the men working at the lab and encourage diverse populations of practitioners, professionals
women who had brought her to participate in the program. In and researchers, the sitting ASPRS Student Advisory Council
part, as a consequence of this experience, she has continued Chair, Amanda D. Aragón, participated in the AAUW sponsored
to work on problems that relate to overcoming barriers and Tech Trek to incorporate a geospatial training component.
within organizations that make that work a priority. Ms. Aragón was particularly proud of her participation in the
program and she describes her experiences below.
Figure 1. Building a map of pixels. Students were given 1-inch x 1-inch cut out colored paper “pixels” and asked to recreate the world pixel by pixel
on the grid they created.
Incoming ASPRS President Becky Morton is an active AAUW
P m – a s
member and particularly values the ability to work toward Ixel atrIx ummer
empowering young women within both organizations. Ms. c P
amP roject
Morton has been active in the Oakland-Piedmont Branch of
AAUW since 2009. The Oakland-Piedmont AAUW Branch has Amanda Aragón led a hands-on geospatial science learning
a strong program of advocacy for women and girls in the local experience, where sixty girls from the state of New Mexico
community and a STEM camp program for middle school girls were interviewed and selected for the week-long learning
called Tech Trek, is a shining example. The Tech Trek STEM accelerated experience on the campus of New Mexico Institute
program is designed to immerse and empower young women to of Technology in Socorro, New Mexico. In addition to robotics,
address the question “Why so few women in STEM?” The City computer science, biology and other areas of research, they
of Oakland in California has, in the recent past, had a national participated in the “Pixel Matrix,” an interactive, youth,
reputation for inner-city violence, racial tension, and poverty, group learning activity to promote understanding and
see “Community Policing and Crime: The Process and Impact cognitive skills by integrating remote sensing and geography
of Problem-Solving in Oakland” 20081. Although improving in skills with a hands-on learning experience.
these areas, the fact remains that particularly young women
1http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR635.pdf.
74 February 2017 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
The young women had the opportunity to build a map of the own grid using strings to establish the equator and prime
world pixel by pixel on a large designated floor space. Students meridian as their foundation to build their world map. The
were provided with a short presentation about how to read students were provided with several diced 1-inch x 1-inch
and locate objects on a map, how to understand coordinate cut out colored paper “pixels” of various colors and asked to
systems and some basic concepts of remote sensing. recreate the world pixel by pixel on the grid they created.
They were also provided with atlases and a map projected
By evaluating an image to the fundamental building block the
onto a larger screen to use as a reference in building their
“picture elements” (i.e., the pixels) that comprise the larger
map. In participating in this activity, directly placing the
image, the students were introduced to the general concept
students on the map itself enforced the learning of space and
of how satellites observe ground features. A demonstration
place on a 2D surface as observed from above. This exercise
image, such as a zoomed-in image from the Landsat Satellite
also promoted team building and communications skills.
Mission, was displayed to explain how researchers acquire
and process data. Using an open floor space structure, such Interestingly, each group took on a different approach in
as a classroom or gymnasium, the students created their creating their shape. The group assigned to Australia started
by dumping a pile of pixels in the center and disbursing them
to the outer boundaries of the continent. The North American
group collaborated on focusing on just the boundary itself with
the careful detail of the outline. However, the group assigned
to Europe took on an entirely different method and layered
rows of a pixel on the grid starting in the north and worked
their way south towards the equator. It was also observed
that if the continent was more foreign and unfamiliar to
the students, such as Asia, the students were less likely to
address the details of the boundaries.
When time was up, all the students stepped back and
revealed a completed world map. The groups were then
asked to explain the experience and what they learned. A
student representative from each group described what they
observed, how they collaborated as a group, why they chose
this method and a little insight they discovered reading about
that continent from the atlases provided.
The feedback from the students was phenomenal. There was
a high but controlled energy level in the room as students
displayed an eagerness to complete the task. Some of the
students who were asked what they learned from the project
admitted that they had never had a geography lesson in
the classroom where they enjoyed discovering so much
information about the world. Another group explained how
they were intimidated by the assignment at first, when
presented with the scale of the project and quantity of
pixels. However, when they started working together they
Figure 2. The students assigned to South America build their “pixel” successfully accomplished the task and were very satisfied
continent. Using these basic remote sensing concepts, the students with the outcome. Overall the Pixel Matrix was a successful
were allowed to work with their groups to complete the task. There project and provided potential interest in the geospatial and
were six groups of ten girls per group, each assigned a unique color. imaging sciences.
Limited instruction was given on how to achieve this task, allowing for
each group to engineer their own methods. The groups were each
given a continent to recreate and had about 40 minutes to complete
the project.
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING February 2017 75
Figure 3. Students were also provided with atlases and a map projected onto a larger screen to use as a reference in building their map.
o the ability of the program to provide life-changing positive
utlook

experiences for young woman through organizational
Ms. Aragón developed this learning activity as an exploration
programs and scholarships. She is equally encouraged
of ways to encourage and promote the new generation
by the current environment for young women in the fields
of geospatial thinkers to become more involved through
of geospatial science and within the ASPRS organization.
progressive learning activities. She believes that new
ASPRS has a long history of supporting young people coming
approaches, like the Pixel Matrix, can innovate and build a
into the geospatial sciences through grants and scholarships
connection with youth, providing a lasting impression that
and scientific publication. The fact that women are embracing
can trigger an interest in geospatial pathways in STEM. She
these opportunities is evident in the trend in ASPRS
designed this project to teach students at the K-12 level a fun
membership toward increased diversity. There is still a long
and a collective way to build their own map and understand
way to go to achieve the diversity we hope for within ASPRS
the fundamentals behind the technology involved. The
membership, but outreach efforts such as Ms. Aragón’s
project allowed exploration of concepts in highly technical
AAUW Tech Trek geospatial science program is exactly what
fields while including critical thinking and group interaction
is needed to get us to our goal. It is amazing to see young
skills that can carry on into advanced academics and career
people’s eyes light up with excitement when they “get it” and
choices for the young women involved.
when they catch the “I love maps” bug. Some of these Tech
Trek young women will become geospatial scientists and
As we look back over the history of ASPRS, our membership
will look back at the learning experience and organizations
has embraced many women leaders, directors, and presidents,
such as ASPRS and AAUW that turned them on to their life’s
including our incoming president, Becky Morton, and vice-
passion for science.
president, Anne Hillyer. Our past female past presidents
include Tamsin G. Barnes (1985), Marilyn M. O’Cuilinn
Although the majority of geospatial workplaces are still
(1990), Tina K. Cary (1996), Karen Schuckman (2005), Kari
predominately male, professional organizations such as
J. Craun (2006), Marguerite Madden (2007), Kass Green
AAUW and ASPRS are actively advancing toward diversity
(2008), Carolyn J. Merry (2010), Bobbi Lenczowski (2012).
and living the AAUW vision of “…bring[ing] people together
Six out of eleven of the current ASPRS Board of Directors are
for the common goal of breaking through educational and
women!
economic barriers for women and girls.” For more information
about Tech Trek see (http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/stem-
Listening to the Tech Trek young women from Oakland,
education/tech-trek/).
California talking about their experience and their newfound
love of science and math, Becky Morton was encouraged by
76 February 2017 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING