Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory Records, 1970-1988

Title: Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory Records, 1970-1988

Predominant Dates: 1972-1988

ID: RG 218

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory

Extent: 9.6 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

Scope and Content Notes

The Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory Records consist primarily of Research Projects Case Files. These files include correspondence, reports, excerpts from staff meeting minutes, research notes, and photographs. The case files document projects with a variety of organizations and agencies, primarily in Oregon, pertaining to land use planning, watersheds and wetlands, field burning, forests, and wildlife habitat.

The Records also include a report of the first year of activities for the Laboratory (1972-1973), several issues of the ERSAL Newsletter for 1973-1974, and Oregon Landsat Mosaics for 1978-1980. The mosaics depict land cover and some land use, including forest harvest patters, agricultural developments, reservoirs, and fire scars.

An addition to the Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory Records (Accession 2014:006) documents various research projects conducted with remote sensing technologies such as the Landsat digital imaging program. In addition to reports and photographs reflecting studies by ERSAL staff, this transfer is also made up of article reprints, brochures, a grant proposal, handbooks, newsletters, notes, a poster, and research data. The research is mostly focused upon the inventory of vegetation cover throughout Oregon for ecological assessment analysis. Used extensively for land use planning, these studies examine a number of elements in the landscape, including: elk habitat, old growth forests, wetlands, forest fire rehabilitation, and the presence of tansy ragwort. Information about the computer software programs developed to analyze the Landsat data can also be found in this transfer. Numbering about 2684 photographs in total (2232 slides, 150 prints, and 302 negatives), the images depict study sites from the ground level and satellite Landsat views. There are also slide presentations on research through remote sensing technologies and images of ERSAL staff using equipment. The poster is a map of Oregon comprised of Landsat images patched together into a single image. This poster was printed for sale to the public.

Biographical / Historical Notes

The Environmental Remote Sensing Applications laboratory (ERSAL) was established in 1972 with funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The initial purpose of the Laboratory was to engage in pilot projects and research to forward the application of remote sensing technology. The ERSAL staff collaborated with state and county governments, municipalities, and federal agencies in Oregon on a variety of resource and human environment problems, with a strong emphasis on land use planning. The Laboratory was initially under the oversight of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and became a unit of the College of Forestry in 1988. C.E. Poulton was the first Director, from 1972 until 1974; Barry J. Schrump became Director in 1974, a position he held until 1988.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 2884 photographs; 10 boxes, including 1 roll storage container and 1 map folder

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The Research Projects Case Files were transferred from ERSAL in 1985. The Oregon Landsat Mosaics were transferred from the Horner Museum collections in 1996.

Related Materials: The Research Office Records (RG 170) include materials pertaining to the administration and general oversight of the Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory.

Preferred Citation: Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory Records (RG 218), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: This collection is not fully processed; this guide is preliminary.

Other URL: A preliminary container list was created for this collection on or before November 14, 2014.

Creators

People, Places, and Topics

Burning of land--Oregon--Remote sensing.
Forest mapping--Oregon--Remote sensing.
Habitat (Ecology)--Oregon--Remote sensing.
History of Science
Landsat satellites.
Landscape ecology--Oregon--Remote sensing.
Land use--Oregon--Planning.
Natural Resources
Oregon State University--Research.
Oregon State University. Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory
Range management--Oregon--Remote sensing.
Remote sensing--Oregon.
University History
Vegetation surveys--Oregon--Remote sensing.