An innovative technique has been developed to digitize and rectify the monochrome transparencies taken by the crew of the space shuttle with the hand-held camera. This project builds on three Phase I accomplishments: 1. An appropriate technique has been developed and implemented for high resolution digitization of the space shuttle transparencies. 2. An algorithm for rectification that will provide angle from nadir, geographical and scale information that can be associated with each feature on the transparencies has been created and refined. 3. The statistical cloud classification technique to assess the spatial variability of the cloud fields has been applied and incorporated in a software environment for an interactive graphics terminal. The specific technical objectives of this proposal, intended to bring this new technology to operational readiness, are: 1. Additional digitization of sequences, including ones from large format camera. 2. Additional analysis of sequences, including cloud vertical extent calculations. 3. Cloud typing through classification techniques. 4. Automatic handling of problems in processing (sunglint, glitches, etc.). 5. Flight simulation through and above cloud field produced from sequences. 6. Apply artificial intelligence concepts to further automate the algorithms by implementing it in an expert system. 7. Incorporate the software in a work station suitable for use in an operational environment by government and commercial users.
