Surveying-Mapping Research from Earth Satellites

The present space research emphasis on earth resources and environmental monitoring has potential benefits for the mapping, planning, and ocean engineering professions. Mapping at scales of 1:500,000 and smaller, with accuracies satisfying national maps accuracy standards from LANDSAT-l is performed routinely. Similar quality urban maps have been compiled from LANDSAT-1 at a scale of 1:250,000. Regional land use maps of nine basic categories with over 90% classification accuracies are routinely prepared in the United States, and classifications of up to 34 different land-use types with 85% accuracies have been achieved in certain nonurban areas. Several high altitude aircraft flights are demonstrating the possibility of future spacecraft carrying a microwave (radar) payload for monitoring global sea states.