Modeling and image processing for visualization of volcanic mapping

Abstract

In countries such as Italy, Japan, and Mexico, where active volcanoes are located in highly populated areas, the problem of risk reduction is very important. Actual knowledge about volcanic behavior does not allow deterministic event prediction or the forecasting of eruptions. However, areas exposed to eruptions can be analyzed if eruption characteristics can be inferred or assumed. Models to simulate volcanic eruptions and identify hazardous areas have been developed by collaboration between the IBM Italy Pisa Scientific Center and the Earth Science Department of Pisa University (supported by the Italian National Group of Volcanology of the Italian National Research Council). The input to the models is the set of assumed eruption characteristics: the typology of the phenomenon (ash fall, pyroclastic flow, etc.), vent position, total eruptible mass, wind profile, etc. The output of the models shows volcanic product distribution at ground level. These models are reviewed and their use in hazard estimation (compared with the more ^Copyright 1989 by International Business Machines Corporation. Copying in printed form for private use is permitted without payment of royalty provided that (1) each reproduction is done without alteration and (2) the Journal reference and IBM copyright notice are included on the first page. The title and abstract, but no other portions, of this paper may be copied or distributed royalty free without further permission by computer-based and other information-service systems. Permission to republish any other portion of this paper must be obtained from the Editor, traditional techniques currently in use) is outlined. Effective use of these models, by public administrators and planners in preparing plans for the evacuation of hazardous zones, requires the clear and effective display of model results. Techniques to display and visualize such data have been developed by the authors. In particular, a computer program has been implemented on the IBM 7350 Image Processing System to display model outputs, representing both volume (in two dimensions) and distribution of ejected material, and to superimpose the displays upon satellite images that show 3D oblique views of terrain. This form of presentation, realized for various sets of initial conditions and eruption times, represents a very effective visual tool for volcanic hazard zoning and evacuation planning.

Texture mapping 3D models of real-world scenes

“…Smedley's examples used bathymetric elevation data. Bernstein et al [1984] and Pareschi and Bernstein [1989] at IBM presented transformations of images of the San Francisco Bay area and of Mt. Etna, respectively, but projected them, orthographically rather than perspectively.…”

Automated subpixel image registration of remotely sensed imagery

“…It has applications in such diverse areas as robot vision [1], guidance systems [2], motion detection [3], medical imaging [4], and manufacturing [5], It also has important applications in the analysis of remotely sensed imagery, such as change detection, topographic mapping, and the alignment of images with maps. (See for example [6] or [7]. )…”