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The LCRS Projects

General
The low-cost remote sensing (LCRS) capability is a new concept that is rapidly entering the field of remote sensing. The LCRS aims to provide information from air without relying on expensive sensors and techniques. The advantage of this approach is its capability for acquiring data on almost a real-time basis, and within a reasonable price range. This unique capability allows new potential users to consider using the remote sensing technique in areas never before tried, thus achieving new dimensions in remote sensing. One of the simplest methods for using the LCRS approach is to utilize a simple video camera for both ground and air applications. Traditional video cameras provide information about the visible region only, however, new video systems that are sensitive to the thermal region are now commercially available. Under such an assumption an INFTRAMETRICS 760 thermal video camera was purchased (with the support of the Israel Science Foundation) and used in several studies. 

Details about the Sensor used for the LCRS part
The sensor used for the LCRS projects is the INFRAMETRICS 760. Basically it is a video device, developed and manufactured by INFRAMETRICS (USA) and ELBIT (ISRAEL) for laboratory applications. It has proven itself over the years to be a promising, stable tool for quantitative and qualitative thermal image applications in many areas. Because of its compact size, we were able to mount it aboard a helicopter and examine its capabilities under "remote sensing" conditions. A detailed methodology and protocol on how to operate this particular instrument from the air were developed in the Remote Sensing Laboratory at the Geography Department, Tel-Aviv University, between 1996 and 1997, and they were carefully validated against traditional measurements. Additionally, the instrument was examined on the ground for its ability to monitor several environmental aspects. The advantages of this instrument are its thermal stability and accuracy, good field of view (20-40o FOV) and instantaneous field of view (1.8 mRad, IFOV), high frequency data acquisition performance and radiometric (60 Hz) and a temperature scale image presentation. 

1. Study of the urban heat island of Tel-Aviv (with the support of the Internal University Fund). 
In this study we mapped the urban heat island of Tel-Aviv from a helicopter during the year 1995 and mapped the thermal measurements of the city’s surface against ground measurements. Very unique information about Tel-Aviv city was obtained, and for the first time it was possible to thermally map the city.

Figure 1
The urban heat island of Tel-Aviv at four-selected neighborhoods.
Thermal images acquired by airborne INFRAMETRICS video radiometer.

1. The urban heat island of Tel-Aviv (with the support of Belfer and Forter Funds). 
In this study we compared the 1995 data collected from air to 1996 data and acquired both daytime and nighttime images. Also, we acquired data from the ground and thermally characterized the urban surface material on a micro scale. Both measurements yielded interesting results in terms of micro mapping of the urban heat island and provided a future tool for monitoring this dynamic phenomenon on a real-time basis.

Image 2a
The urban heat island of one of the warmest areas of The-Aviv as acquired from the airborne INFRAMETRICS video radiometer during day night and a year apart.  Also provided is an airphoto image of the area.

 
 
Image 2b
The urban heat island of Tel-Aviv city and its vicinity as acquired from the LANDSAT band 7.

 

3.  Excavation planning of archaeological site (With the support of Weitzmann Fund).
In this study we used the TVR sensor from both the air and the ground and mapped possible non-visible structures of the buried settlement in Tel-Levia Golan Heights. The thermal maps (showing non-visible structures) were validated against in situ excavation with excellent agreement .

Figure 3a
(A) series of aerial photos and thermal images (rectified to the aerial photos) of the archaeological site examined. (A) is the raw aerial photo and the thermal image, (B) is the raw aerial photo and thermal images showing existing wall (dashed line) patterns and (C) is the raw aerial photo and the thermal images showing existing (dashed line) and buried wall (solid line) patterns.

 

Figure 3b
Enlargement of the thermal image presented in Figure 4C.
The existing walls appear as dashed lines and the buried walls are solid lines.

4.  Mineralogical mapping of Makhtesh Ramon from ground and air domains using the TVR sensor (with the support 
of the Ministry of Infrastructure). 
In this research we studied the capability of the sensor to map minerals within non-vegetated areas. We used data taken from the air (taken during both night time and daytime flights) and data taken on the ground (taken over a period of 24 hours). It was concluded that the sensor is able to provide low-cost information about minerals using the ATI parameter, even though the emissivity of the surface is not known.

Image 4
An image shows the ATI values of selected minerals in Makhtesh Ramon Israel as generated from 
day and night images of the radiance temperature of these minerals.

5.  Monitoring of the Yarkon River basin and its water quality by the TIR sensor (with the support of Belfer and Forter Funds). 
In this study we are using the sensor from both the air and the ground to evaluate possible water contamination on a real-time, low-cost basis. So far, this ongoing research has yielded very promising results, for the most part, from the ground level. 

Image 5

A thermal image showing the intersection of two water stream of the Yarkon river Israel:  The fresh water (from natural springs) and polluted water (from city wastes).