Method and apparatus for determining runoff using remote geographic sensing
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for determining the interaction between precipitation and runoff in a selected geographic region, comprising the steps of:
- sensing electromagnetic energy patterns indicative of ground cover in said geographic region by remote sensing to obtain ground cover data relating to said geographic region;
sensing electromagnetic energy patterns indicative of soil characteristics in said geographic region by remote sensing to obtain soil characteristic data relating to said geographic region; and
inputting said group cover data and said soil characteristic data into a computer for performing the following steps;
analyzing said ground cover data and said soil characteristic data to indentify a plurality of different ground covers and a plurality of different soil characteristics in said geographic region;
classifying said geographic region in accordance with a plurality of ground cover classification data, and storing said ground cover classification data in memory of said computer;
classifying said geographic region in accordance with a plurality of soil characteristic classes corresponding to said different soil characteristics to obtain soil characteristic classification data, and storing said soil characteristic classification data in memory of said computer;
combining said ground cover classification data and said soil characteristic classification data and storing the combined classification data in memory of said computer; and
determining from said combined classification data an expected runoff in said geographic region as a result of precipitation.
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Abstract
Images of a selected geographic region are obtained using remote sensing apparatus and are processed to determine characteristic spectral reflectance patterns associated with different ground covers and soil types in the region. The image processing means compares the spectral reflectance patterns to image pixel values in order to classify each pixel in a ground cover or soil type class, the corresponding spectral reflectance pattern for which matches the pixel value. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, Geographic Information System (GIS) software is utilized to combine a remotely sensed image providing ground cover classifications for a geographic region with a remotely sensed image providing soil type classifications for the same region in order to generate a rainfall loss function. The rainfall loss function can then be used to determine a runoff curve number (RCN) for the region, to determine probable maximum flood (PMF), or to generate various design flood hydrographs corresponding to different precipitation events using a computer water shed model.
80 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for determining the interaction between precipitation and runoff in a selected geographic region, comprising the steps of:
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sensing electromagnetic energy patterns indicative of ground cover in said geographic region by remote sensing to obtain ground cover data relating to said geographic region; sensing electromagnetic energy patterns indicative of soil characteristics in said geographic region by remote sensing to obtain soil characteristic data relating to said geographic region; and inputting said group cover data and said soil characteristic data into a computer for performing the following steps; analyzing said ground cover data and said soil characteristic data to indentify a plurality of different ground covers and a plurality of different soil characteristics in said geographic region; classifying said geographic region in accordance with a plurality of ground cover classification data, and storing said ground cover classification data in memory of said computer; classifying said geographic region in accordance with a plurality of soil characteristic classes corresponding to said different soil characteristics to obtain soil characteristic classification data, and storing said soil characteristic classification data in memory of said computer; combining said ground cover classification data and said soil characteristic classification data and storing the combined classification data in memory of said computer; and determining from said combined classification data an expected runoff in said geographic region as a result of precipitation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for determining the interaction between precipitation and runoff in a selected geographic region, comprising:
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memory means; data gathering means coupled to said memory means for obtaining data relating to ground cover in said geographic region; remote sensing means coupled to said memory means for remotely sensing an electromagnetic energy pattern indicative of a soil characteristic in said geographic region; and processing means coupled to said memory means for combining said ground cover data and said soil characteristic data to obtain an indication of expected runoff in said geographic region as a result of precipitation.
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5. A method for determining the interaction between precipitation and runoff in a selected geographic region, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data relating to ground cover in said geographic region; sensing an electromagnetic energy pattern indicative of a soil characteristic in said geographic region with remote sensing means to obtain soil characteristic data relating to said geographic region; and combining said ground cover data and said soil characteristic data to determine expected runoff in said geographic region as a result of precipitation. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for discriminating between areas in a geographic region which are characterized by a selected soil characteristic, comprising the steps of:
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sensing the electromagnetic energy patterns in said geographic region with remote sensing means to obtain image data relating to said geographic region; determining for at least one test location in said geographic region a soil characteristic which substantially characterizes said test location and storing test location data relating to said soil characteristic in memory means; comparing that portion of said image data which corresponds to said test location with corresponding test location data and generating relationship data which indicates correlation between said image data and said soil characteristic at said test location; and analyzing said image data for said geographic region using said relationship data to locate other areas in said geographic region which are substantially characterized by said soil characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for determining a fluid infiltration potential of soil in a geographic region, comprising the steps of:
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sensing electromagnetic energy patterns in said geographic region with remote sensing means to obtain image data relating to said geographic region; storing said image data in a memory means; and analyzing the stored image data to determine a fluid infiltration potential of soil in said geographic region. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification