Collateral Materials Used

Desert Guide

The bulk of the HTD is based on the materials contained in the desert guide (ETL-0588, Remote Sensing Field Guide - Desert, Prepared by the Desert Processes Working Group (USAETL and USGS/Flagstaff), 568p., September 1991). The U.S. Marines reproduced and distributed this report to their troops in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. The desert guide addresses terrain analysis in support of Army operations. It contains descriptions of commonly occurring landforms (mainly aeolian sand related) throughout the world and representative aerial images and ground photos. In addition, recent data has been collected [Rinker, et. al.] in the area of Fort Irwin (Trona 1:250,000 scale topographic map) and was incorporated into the HTD. This is near the High Fidelity test site established by TEC in 1992 at the National Training Center, for the ARPA Advanced Simulation Program.

Middle East Terrain Analysis Examples (classified version of HTD)

Various terrain analyses have been generated by USATEC based almost entirely on LANDSAT imagery. These analyses provide excellent examples for desert region terrain. They include LANDSAT imagery, analysis text, hypothesized landform feature overlays, and lines-of-communication overlays. All this material was integrated in hypermedia form. Features contained in the imagery can be interactively "clicked on" resulting in the display of the corresponding text addressing the feature. Specific areas of imagery being referred to in the text are linked directly to the text. In some cases symbology is added to imagery to direct attention to various features. Links are established from analysis terminology to definitions and illustrating examples in the Desert Guide material. For instance, where Sabkhah is referenced in the analysis a link is made to the Desert Guide hypertext that defines Sabkhahs. Post analysis comments and imagery (ground and aerial) is included based on subsequent survey of the area under consideration thus providing ground truth for confirming or refuting hypotheses made in the analysis. This ground imagery contains interactive links to the LANDSAT imagery.