This CD-ROM includes many of the satellite images used in "Looking
Back" as digital data, suitable for input to most image processing
software packages. All the images are subject to copyright and cannot be
reproduced with the publishers' consent.
Includes capture dates, WRS numbers and locations for the landsat scenes. Many of these entries are linked to related pages in the book.
Graphics format
The images appearing throughout the text of the book, whether photographs or satellite images, are in either GIF or JPEG format. In the case of satellite images, these are only pictorial representations of the data files described below, although they may still be manipulated with some graphics software to simulate the image processing steps. These images may be downloaded via your browser. Satellite image graphics listed by location.
Data format
A satellite image is represented by two files - a data file and a header file. The data file is in band sequential format. Most images are 8 bits per pixel and all have the origin at the top left corner. Data files have a .img suffix. The header file is a plain text file with a .hdr suffix and describes the basic image parameters needed to open the files. Also included is a corresponding info file, a text file with a .lis suffix, which provides details of the image processing history, geographic co-ordinates etc. Note: the image files were originally produced using DISIMP and the info files retain references to that software.
For example:
- 090085i.bsq
- 090085i.hdr
- 090085i.lis
Directory structure
The directory structure of data on the CD-ROM is as follows:
MOSAICS
Contains images composed of several scenes mosaicked together. The LANDSAT sub-directory contains composites of some of the Landsat scenes featured in the book and the NOAA sub-directory contains a full resolution NOAA AVHRR composite of Australia.
LANDSAT
Contains a collection of Landsat imagery subdivided into location by Australian states. Scenes from outside Australia are grouped in a directory named WORLD. An EXTRA directory contains some extra images of general interest. More information about Landsat images.
NOAA
These files are monthly vegetation index (NDVI ) images produced from NOAA AVHRR data for Asutralia and for the world. The image sequences are animated in the book.
In the AUST subdirectory each image consists of three channels, each channel representing a month of the year. Thus one image represents a quarter. For example, the file 86_1Q.bsq includes the monthly NDVI values for January, February and March of 1986 as channels 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Normally NDVI data would be viewed one channel at a time in some rainbow colour sequence.
In the WORLD subdirectories each image has only one channel, representing one month of the year. For example, the file 8605gvi.bsq represents the NDVI values for the month of May in 1986.
CITIES
A collection of subsets of Landsat images of the major Australian cities at various dates.