Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing of Brush Fire Scars in Arid Urban
Regions: Analysis of Future Fire and Flooding Hazards
A project by
Mike Ramsey
and
Ramon Arrowsmith
funded by NASA.
The Image Visualization and Infrared
Spectroscopy (IVIS) Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh
and the ASU Department of Geological Sciences and Active Tectonics, Quantitative Structural
Geology and Geomorphology group
Link to main page at the University of Pittsburgh: http://ivis.eps.pitt.edu/projects/fire-flood/
Proposal summary
We propose a multi-frequency, multi-temporal analysis of existing brush
fire scars for Phoenix, AZ and other semi-arid urban environments. This
analysis will be used to develop a model of flash flooding potential and
future fire hazards for these regions. Because of the removal of
vegetation due to these fires, subsequent channel and surface flooding
increases during intense periods of summer monsoonal thunderstorms.
Further, many of these regions are undergoing rapid urbanization and the
threat to human lives and property will increase. Because the southwestern
United States has the highest urban growth rates in the nation, cities must
address a broad range of issues, including water resources, urban growth,
and natural hazards such as brush fires and flash flooding. As populations
in these regions continue to grow and the urban fringe expands into the
vegetated desert, more and more people are at risk from human- and
naturally-induced fires. Once burned, these regions then can facilitate
and concentrate rapid flood run-off and erosion. Factors that influence
these fire scars are the proximity of human activity, short and long term
climate variations and vegetation type and abundance.
We intend to utilize currently available multi-spectral, multi-temporal
data archive of images to analyze existing fire scars surrounding the
Phoenix area. These scars range in age from 3 to 30 years are easily
visible on near-infrared, thermal-infrared surface temperature, and SIR-C
radar images. The first stage of this study will be to investigate the
linkage between the fire scar age, vegetation type and recovery, soil type
and local topography. Next we will use this information to model surface
response to heavy rainfall and asses the local hazard potential. By
utilizing these data together with new field studies, we will concentrate
on developing a flood/fire hazard map of the Phoenix region and identify
the most efficient means of remote detection. The final stage of the study
will be to use these initial results to examine other arid cities in the
southwestern United States which have far less remote sensing coverage.
This study will serve as a critical facet of the upcoming ASTER global
urban monitoring program for which the PI is responsible. This
project-approved effort is designed to gather data over the worldÕs 100
fastest growing and environmentally at-risk cities, most of which are
located in semi-arid climates.
AGENCY INFORMATION
BLM Wildfire Information
Fire Reporting Instructions for BLM
Nice images of firefighting in Fountain Hills and probably Rio fire
IMAGES
Schematic of idea of project for LTER presentation
Adobe Illustrator version of above figure
1998 TM band 6 thermal image of the Rio area. Lighter areas are the
variously-aged fire scars
4,3,2 composite of 1993 TM data of the one fire scar
Locations of fire scars and study sites in the northwest Scottsdale/Rio Verde area overlain on Landsat image
Adobe Illustrator version of above image by Tamara Misner and Ramon Arrowsmith
NOTES
Summer 2001 notes on contacts and phenomena
From John McHone:
Fire scars and Landsat images in Austrailia's Lake Dissapointment area
Wildfire studies, Great Victoria Desert from U. Texas
SUMMARIES
2001 summary
Final Report (summer, 2004)--120 Mb!
REPORT about this project
Earth Observatory Write up on the project
FIELD WORK AND ANALYSIS
Balloon photography of Brush fire scars east of Carefree, AZ
Photography of spectra sampling sites in area of Cavecreek Fire scar: 12/12/2000
Near IR spectra on the Carefree fire scar
Photography of the area near Anthem in north Phoenix, 6_12_01
Photography including from kite of the Carefree fire scar, 6_13_01
Balloon photography for Carefree Fire Scar, 6_14_01
More balloon photography for Carefree Fire Scar, 6_14_01
Ground photography for Carefree Fire Scar including spectral locations, 6_14_01
Ground (and one balloon) photography for Dynamite Fire Scar, 6_28_01
Balloon and some ground photography for Dynamite Fire Scar, 07_03_01
McDowell Mountain Regional Park Research Permit request
Photographs from fire scar tour, 8/22/01
Photographs from aerial overflight, 7/28/01 (film)
Photographs from aerial overflight, 7/28/01 (digitalcamera)
Topographic surveying of burn edge at Carefree scar
Sediment traps for fire scar study
Photography of the Pinnacle fire and balloon photography, 8/25/01
Photography of the sediment trap installation, 4/18/02
Photography of balloon photography and sediment traps (including U1, U2, B1, B2), 7/14/02
McDowell Mtn Park Sed traps--Balloon Photography 07_14_02
McDowell Mtn Park Sed traps--Field operations 07_30_02 (including Ramsay and Misner and Burnt curvature and sediment sampling)
McDowell Mtn Park Sed traps--Field operations 07_31and8_1_02 (including U3, U4, U5, B3)
McDowell Mtn Park Sed traps--Regolith and curvature: Burnt 08_04_02 (photos only)
McDowell Mtn Park Sed traps--Notes after rainfall event
McDowell Mtn Park Sed traps--Regolith and curvature: Unburnt 08_25_02 (photos only)
Curvature and regolith study
Photography of the sediment traps after heavy rains, 2_14_03
Photography of the sediment traps after when we collected the sediment--2_25_03