187 D38. Advances in Geology and Health (Posters)

Tuesday, 24 September 2019
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Hall AB, North Building

FINAL PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT FOR A HYPERSPECTRAL SEARCH AND DISCOVERY TOOL OPTIMIZED FOR RESCUE, DISASTER MANAGEMENT, AND CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS

Paper number: 187-8
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

The intersection of the geosciences with emergency management as well as law enforcement continues to expand. Hyperspectral remote sensing is a technology that is being increasingly used to monitor changes in the environment and climate globally. Via hyperspectral remote sensing, digital imagery is obtained through satellite, airplane, or unmanned air vehicle. Each pixel in the acquired image has a reflective spectrum associated with it that is a function of the source materials on the ground. Via hyperspectral remote sensing, materials can be identified and their spectra compiled in order to provide a high quality library of geomaterials. There is an evolving intersection with hyperspectral remote sensing, geology and emergency management and law enforcement. Here is reported the final phase of data and software updates for a search and discovery tool for use with the remote sensing platform ENVI. Data in the software involves both geomaterials and human materials with their accompanying reflective spectra, and a variety of supporting metadata. This software tool is designed to aid in the search and rescue of people in outdoor environments, to characterize areas impacted by environmental and natural disasters, and to investigate crime scenes. Potential human-use related applications include finding lost persons, finding hostages in remote locations, characterizing large outdoor crime scenes, investigating crimes against humanity, combating human trafficking, and monitoring humanitarian crises. Environmental applications include identifying materials in arid regions, investigating fuel spills, investigating a range of geologic materials and assisting in the management of national parks and land under the Bureau of Land Management and similar federal and state agencies. The software is planned to be made available at no cost to users and is designed to be expandable for future modifications and improvements.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2019AM-338443

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