AERIAL INFRARED SURVEY OF PORTIONS
OF THE MONONGAHELA, OHIO, AND
ALLEGHENY RIVERS; PITTSBURGH,
PENNSYLVANIA VICINITY
JUNE 1973
PROJECT NO. N89.6
Regional Center for Em ironmcnl.il Inform,*™
US EPA Region III
ld504lthSt
Philadelphia, P* I"""
Prepared for
SURVEILLANCE AND ANALYSIS DIVISION
EPA - REGION III
Prepared by
ALBERT E. PRESSMAN
MONITORING OPERATIONS DIVISION
EPA - NERC-LAS VEGAS
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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In furnishing the Surveillance and Analysis Division - Region III
with the data and the interpretation from NERC-Las Vegas services,
it must be understood that the results stated and conclusions drawn
represent NERC-Las Vegas1 best judgment. Any action that the
Surveillance and Analysis Division - Region III takes based on the
data and reports will be the Surveillance and Analysis Division's -
Region III own responsibility.
NERC-LAS VEGAS
ii
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A
$222
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
I
II
III
IV
V
Title
INTRODUCTION
RESULT SUMMARY
DATA COLLECTION
DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Page
1
2
3
5
13
Number;
1
2
Appendix
A
B
FIGURES
Title
Index Map
Infrared imagery examples;
Discharges 1 through 14
Infrared imagery examples;
Discharges 15 through 20
Infrared imagery examples;
Discharges 21 through 28
Infrared imagery examples;
Discharges 29 through 34
Infrared imagery examples;
Discharges 35, 36
APPENDIXES
Title
PROJECT PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT (#N89.6)
QUADRANGLE MAPS; DISCHARGES SHOWN; 11 MAPS
Page
4
6
8
9
10
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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SECTION I
INTRODUCTION
National Environmental Research Center (NERC) - Las Vegas under
Project N89.6 conducted an aerial remote sensing survey for the
Surveillance and Analysis Division - Region III. The work was
initiated by a memorandum from_Mr. J. Gary Gardner to Mr. L. Dunn on
March 21, 1972, requesting..."IR coverage of portions of four major
rivers to support enforcement activities and to provide information on
waste discharge locations for possible surveillance investigations."
Based on this and other communication, aerial infrared and other data
were collected on August 25, 1972, over portions of the Monongahela,
Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, vicinity.
The objective of this survey was to locate and provide information
on waste discharges into the rivers covered. Results of this effort
are presented in Section II of this report.
Section III describes the data collection operations; details of
the data processing and analysis are covered in Section IV. Comments
and recommendations regarding utility of this information are found in
Section V. Appendix A lists the personnel, major items of equipment
and functions involved in the conduct of this survey; and Appendix B
is a set of eleven U.S.G.S. Quadrangle Maps (7-1/2 minute series) on
which the discharge information has been plotted.
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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SECTION II
RESULT SUMMARY
Thirty-six discharges evidenced by their warmer surface temper-
ature were located and mapped along the 150 linear mile (approx)
section of river flown. The locations of the discharge points have
been plotted on maps and listed to the nparp.st second. Total surface
area of the mixing zones, furthest extent of the thermal influence
(downstream), time of data recording and other related information
have been mapped and tabulated. Area of thermal influence ranged from
40,000 to 1,360,000 sq. ft. Downstream extents varied between 400 and
3400 ft. from the discharge points. Where two thermal levels within
a single mixing zone were observed, these have been mapped and noted.
In several locations notations are made of mixing zones spanning the
river between both shores. Occasionally, discharges could not be
mapped with sufficient confidence and these are appropriately noted.
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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SECTION III
DATA COLLECTION
Airborne remote sensor data for this project were collected on
August 25, 1972; 1158-1358 EDT. Approximately 150 linear miles of
river segments were flown (figure 1). Thermal infrared (8-14 micron
wavelength) imagery obtained with a HRB-Singer AN/AAS-14A optical/
mechanical scanner was the primary data resulting from this effort.
The aircraft altitude varied between 4000-8700 ft. above terrain.
Ground coverage obtained by this scanner, of interpretive value, is a
ground swath along the flight path approximately 80 wide, i.e.,
6700-14,600 ft. for this project.
Figures 2 through 6 are examples of imagery resulting from this
survey. To produce these images, strip film is exposed, line by line,
by light, the intensity of which is controlled by the output of an
infrared sensitive detector. This detector is mercury-cadmium-telluride
which is cooled to a temperature of 77 K during '>poration to provide
high temperature sensitivity. In normal operations, this scanner
records temperature variations of the terrain surface on the order of
several tenths of a degree centigrade.
Quality of the resultant imagery is affected by primarily;
1) condition of scanner, 2) operation of the scanner, 3) flight
procedures, and 4) weather conditions. These variables are controllable
or can be scheduled around.
Quality of infrared data collected for this project is considered
fair to poor. It does, however, contain information believed to be of
value to the Surveillance and Analysis Division - Region III and has
therefore been analyzed and reported.
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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SECTION IV
DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS
Data processing for this project consisted totally of film
negative and positive development and duplication at a reconnaissance-
type photographic laboratory at NERC-Las Vegas. Detailed examination
of the infrared imagery for water discharge information uas performed
with the use of paper positive images and film positives backlighted
by a simple photo interpretation light table. Interpreted discharge
points and mixing zone outlines were delineated on film positive
images then transferred to paper positives (figures 2 through 6) and
Quadrangle Maps (Appendix B). Film and paper positives used and
presented herein were photographically scaled to 1:24,000 (1 in =
2,000 ft.) to facilitate transfer of the discharge information to the
maps and to minimize confusion to the reader due to scale variations
in the original data. Scale variations were introduced into the data
by altitude changes (above terrain) during the survey, by distortions
inherent to this type of scanner recorder and by sinuous flight lines
which attempted, on occasion, to follow the river courses. The
combination of these three resulted in a distorted, scale varying
image which presented serious difficulty in attempting to position the
interpreted discharge points and aerial discharge outline to the maps,,
Although care was taken, it is estimated that, on occasion, the dis-
charge points presented on the maps will be over 1,000 ft. removed
from their true position, and discharge boundaries may be even more
poorly located on the maps. Table 1, Discharge Data, is a tabulation
of all pertinent discharge information resulting from this survey.
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Although it was not possible to determine the absolute surface water
temperature of the mixing zones or receiving water, an attempt was made
to indicate relative discharge temperatures. The discharges inter-
preted as being warmer are noted "two thermal levels" under Remarks.
Both thermal levels of these mixing zones are delineated on the quadrangle
maps.
Infrared images of each thermal discharge are shown as figures 2
through 6. These were included in the report to assist in any possible
follow-up ground investigation where accurate positioning may be
required. (Distortions and inaccuracies associated with the data and
subsequent map transfers have been discussed above.) Each discharge is
key numbered to the maps and tabulated data are in Table 1.
Close examination of these infrared images should reveal warmer
water areas (lighter toned) sourcing at the tip of each arrow.
Although the "originals" of the imagery were slightly better quality
than the report copies, the reader should be able to realize the
relative confidence to place in the actual presence of each discharge.
(This is the "raw" data.) Compare for example discharge #9 (Figure 2)
which carries the notation in Table 1 "Questionable if discharge is
actually present" with #29 which presents little detection or mapping
problem. Again, it is stressed that data collected for this project
was of marginal quality, not representative of unclassified state-of-
the-art infrared scanning for thermal mapping purposes, and finally,
not representative of future results to be produced by NERC-LV.
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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SECTION V
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Aerial infrared surveying^jcan readily detect and delineate the
presence and surface extent of discharges into rivers by displaying
on permanent film record a map-like presentation of surface temperature.
2. This technique can be applied day or night but is limited in
inclement weather conditions.
3. Documentation of this type can be obtained in a confidential
manner.
4. Absolute water surface temperature to 1 F accuracies in contour
map presentation is attainable by this method.
5. Large areas can be screened rapidly via infrared surveillance.
6. The equipment and techniques utilized are quite sophisticated, and
good quality data are not obtained easily. Attaining and maintaining
operational status is difficult and costly.
It is recommended that personnel from Region III, Surveillance and
Analysis, share available or newly acquired information related to
these interpreted discharges with NERC-LV. A short field check to
selected sites, made jointly, would be helpful toward improving future
similar efforts.
Any recommendations by Regional personnel geared to improving
these aerial reconnaissance surveys are solicited and necessary for
development of a viable technique.
NERC-LAS VEGAS
13
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55S
APPENDIX A
PROJECT PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT (//N89.6)
Name
R. Landers
M. Smith
J. Schmidt
C. Lake, W. Fowler
B. Spavin, W. Fowler
G. Niles
A. Pressman
Function
Mission Manager
Pilot
IR Scanner Engineer
Film Processing, Printing
Graphics
Data Compilation
Data Analysis, Report
Grumman Mohawk OV-1C
HRB Singer AN/AAS-14A
Kodak Versamat 11C-M
LogEtronic SP10/70-B
Miller-Holzworth EN88A
Aircraft
Infrared Scanner
Roll Film Processor
Roll Paper Printer
Image Scale Adjustment
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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APPENDIX B
QUADRANGLE MAPS SHOWING DISCHARGES; 11 MAPS
Discharge No.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 22, 27, 28,
9, 10
29
11, 12, 13, 14
15, 16, 19
17
18
20, 21
23, 24
25, 26, 30, 32, 34
31, 33, 35
36
Map
Pittsburgh East, PA
Ambridge, PA
Baden, PA
Beaver, PA
Midland, PA
Hookstown, PA
New Kensington West, PA
Braddock, PA
McKeesport, PA
Glassport, PA
Monongahela, PA
NERC-LAS VEGAS
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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTBR10R
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