Data integration of exploration data using colour space on an image processor

Abstract

lmage processing in exploration has rapidly evolved into the field of data integration, whereby independent data sets which coincide in space are displayed concurrently. Interrelation-ships between data sets which may be crucial to exploration can thus be identified much more effectively than with conventional hard copy overlays. The use of perceptual colour space; hue, saturation and luminosity (HSL) provides an effective means for integrating raster data sets, as illustrated with the multi-spectral scanner and airborne geophysical data from the Kambalda area in Western Australia. The integration process must also cater for data in vector format, which is more appropriate for geological, topographic and cultural information, but to date, image processing systems have poorly captured and managed such data. As a consequence, the merging of vector data management software such as GIS (geographic information system) with existing advanced image enhancement packages is an area of active development in the exploration industry.