Lab 4: Spatial Enhancement, Multispectral Data, and Band Indices

In this week's lab, we learned how to perform spatial enhancements in ArcMap and ERDAS. Below you will find the three maps created using subset images with different band combinations that makes certain features visible and contrasting with their surroundings. Each combination also follow specific criteria for their corresponding histogram models in ERDAS.

For this map, the criteria was to find a feature and use a scale and color combination that makes the feature contrast with its surroundings. Also, the feature must be responsible for a spike in the Layer_4 between the pixel values of 12 and 18 in the histogram model in ERDAS. I chose the contrast between the dark blue/black water and the bright green vegetation on land. 

The second map deliverable, I chose a true color band combination showing a small spike around pixel 200 for Layers 1-4 and a large spike between pixel values 9 and 11 in Layers 5 and 6 in the ERDAS histogram model. This highlights the white snow-capped mountains against the darker green vegetation around it.

For the third map deliverable, the criteria was the find a color combination that showed water variations. Also, Layers 1-3 must be much brighter, Layer 4 must be somewhat brighter, and Layers 5 and 6 must be unchanged. This color combination is showing different shades of blue representing variations in the water features. Where there are lighter shades of blue, the water is shallower and/or contains more sediments.