STAVRIDISJGISC9231D3 (1)

Georeferencing of Scanned Aerial
Imagery and Change Detection
GISC9231 – Introduction to Remote Sensing
James Stavridis
December 15, 2015
Created for: Janet Finlay

G I S C 9 2 3 1 1 5 / 1 2 / 2 0 1 5
James Stavridis
59 Keith Crescent, Niagara-on-the-lake, ON L0S 1J0
P: 647-230-0036 E: Jamesstavridis16@gmail.com
December15, 2015
GISC9231D3
Mrs. JanetFinlay
Professor,GIS – Geospatial ManagementProgram
NiagaraCollege
135 Taylor,Niagara-on-the-lake,ON L0S1J0
Dear Mrs. JanetFinlay,
RE: GISC9231 Deliverable 3– GeoreferencingofScannedAerial Imagery and Change Detection
Please acceptthisletterasa formal submissionforAssignmentThree:Georeferencingof ScannedAerial
ImageryandChange Detection forGISC9231 – Remote Sensing.
For thisassignment,we were givenJPEGimagesfromthe Wellandcanal whenitwasbeingbuiltin1921
and whenthe buildingwascomplete in1934, as well asa base image of the canal from2003. We were
to use ArcMap to connect these imagesfrom1921 and1934 onto the base map. Thiswas done using
the georeferencingtoolbox tofindsimilarpointsonbothimages,thenupdatingthe georeferencingof
the olderimagestostay on the map.Thenwe were tomake maps withall the properelements
included.All thiswasdone fromknowledge andexperience learnedthroughlectures,readingsandlab
workdone.
I lookforwardto receivingfeedbacktothisassignmentinordertoimprove myskillsin remote sensing
as well asimproving myreportwritingskills.Please feelfree tocontactme withthe numberprovided
below,orthroughemail atany time,if youhave anyproblemsorquestionsregardingthe assignment.
Thank youfor yourtime.
Regards,
JamesStavridis,B.A.H
Geospatial ManagementCandidate
J.S.
Enclosures:1) AssignmentThree –Georeferencingof ScannedAerial ImageryandChange Detection

P a g e | i
James Stavridis
Contents
1. Introduction................................................................................................................................1
2. Methodology ..............................................................................................................................1
3. 1934 Aerial Images (A4873_19, A4873_20 and A4873_21).............................................................2
A. ...................................................................................................................................................2
B. ...................................................................................................................................................2
C. ...................................................................................................................................................2
D. ...................................................................................................................................................2
E.....................................................................................................................................................3
4. 1921 Aerial Images (H20-1, H20-2, H22-25, H22-91) ......................................................................3
F.....................................................................................................................................................3
5. 2003 Satellite Imagery (IKONOS Multispectral Imagery).................................................................3
G. ...................................................................................................................................................3
6. Change Detection........................................................................................................................4
H. ...................................................................................................................................................4
I......................................................................................................................................................5
J.....................................................................................................................................................5
G. ...................................................................................................................................................5
Appendix A.........................................................................................................................................6
Appendix B.........................................................................................................................................7
Appendix C.........................................................................................................................................8
Table 1 - Lock Visibilityin 1934 and in 2003. .........................................................................................4
Figure 1 - The georeferencingtoolbarinArcMap. ……………..……………………………………………………………………1

P a g e | 1
James Stavridis
1. Introduction
The Welland Canal has joined Lake Ontario and Lake Erie since 1829. This is when the first of
the Welland Canals was built to allow ships a safe route between the two lakes, because the
Niagara River was un-navigable with Niagara Falls along the route. Once it was built, it served a
critical role in the economic prosperity of Canada (T.O.R., 2015). A second canal was built in
1845 which replaced the first one. In 1887 a third canal was built farther east of the first two
and was in operation until 1932. However this third canal was not big enough to fit the larger
sized boats that would need to go through the area, so a bigger and wider canal would have to
be built. In 1912 the work on that larger canal began on a fourth canal which would follow the
same route as the old first and second canal. This was completed in 1932 and opened the same
year, and has been in operation since. You can still see remnants of the old third canal today,
especially via satellite imagery.
2. Methodology
We were first provided with a IKONOs image of the Welland canal as it was in 2003. This was
used as our base map for our images. We were then provided by Niagara College with three
images from the canal in 1934, and four images from the canal location in 1921. By using the
georeferencing tool with ArcMap, we were tasked with georeferencing each of these images
onto the base map IKONOs image. The georeferencing toolbar is shown in figure 1 below. Also
the IKONOs base map image can be seen in Appendix A. Each image had to first have a
minimum of three control points with the base map, which means areas that are the exact
same on each image. When this was completed we would be able to update the pictures
georeferencing which would keep the image in place with the base map. The 1934 images on
the base map can be seen in Appendix B, and the 1921 images on the base map can be seen in
Appendix C
Figure 1 - The georeferencing toolbar in ArcMap.

P a g e | 2
James Stavridis
3. 1934 Aerial Images (A4873_19, A4873_20 and A4873_21)
A.
The operational status of the 4th canal in 1934 seems like it is open. There is water that fills the
canal which indicates that the canal is open and has been in use. Also from reading the terms of
reference we know that this fourth canal (which is the one we are studying) was opened and in
use by the year 1932 (T.O.R., 2015). This would mean that by the time the images were taken,
the Welland Canal would have been in operational use. However the operational statues of the
third canal seems to be closed. There is water within the different locks, but no nearly enough
to hold a ship, and the passageways seemtoo small to allow a ship to safely move between the
locks.
B.
Referring to the A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG) image, the wedge shaped formations in
location A are striations caused by the many vehicles and equipment used in the construction
of that portion of the canal. Much of the dirt in the area looks like it had to be dug out by the
equipment, and the land of location A may have been were this took place. Since all the
construction equipment would have been heavy, it was able to leave a mark on the land even a
few years after the construction was complete. Even today, by looking at the base map IKONOs
image, you can still see some of the remnants of the striations.
C.
Again referring to the A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG) image, the linear feature at
location B is the abandoned rail line tunnel that runs underneath the 3rd Welland canal. During
the time of the photography, the railway was already completely. In fact, this railroad line was
closed completely in 1915 (Cumerlato, 2004). This is partially due to the fact two men were
killed in the tunnel in 1903, and is said to be haunted. This rail line was a short lived
transportation route, as it only had one track, and by 1915 a new two tracked rail line as built
north of the tunnel. That in turn meant that this rail line was no longer needed and became
abandoned long before the 1934 images were taken.
D.
Again referring to the A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG) image, I believe that the pond
located at location C existed to allow for a reservoir of water, that if needed could be used to
add or remove water from the locks for the third Welland Canal. This could be because of all
the access water that was within the third Welland Canal at the time, but since it was closed
the water was just sitting there and slowly had to flow out into Lake Ontario, or into the new 4th
canal.

P a g e | 3
James Stavridis
E.
Again referring to the A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG) image, the area in location E is
where the General Motors plant that will soon be built. The land was originally part of the Fuller
Plan to have housing built in between the rail line and the canal. However this was scratched
and soon GM bought the land to build a plant. The area in location E is the early stages of the
plant being built, with construction started on clearing the land and making the area flat, as can
be seen in the image.
4. 1921 Aerial Images (H20-1, H20-2, H22-25, H22-91)
F.
The operational status of the 4th canal seems to be closed but under construction. We know
from the terms of references provided that this particular canal was under construction in the
year of 1921. You can see this being done within the images, as there is no water within any
area of the canal, and much of the land looks like it is either dirt or being excavated for future
construction. The third canal just to the east of the construction of the 4th canal in the images
are however in operational use. The locks are both filled with water and wider enough to fit
most sizes of boats. We do also know that the third canal was in operational use in 1921 and
that the 4th canal was in the process of being constructed because of the terms of reference,
which states that the third canal closed in 1932 and the 4th canal was under construction
starting in 1912 (T.O.R., 2015).
5. 2003 Satellite Imagery (IKONOS Multispectral Imagery)
G.
The operational status of the 4th Welland Canal in the 2003 IKONOS image shows that it is open
and operational. This can be seen by all the locks in the area working and the water that fills the
locks and the canal indicate this. Also there is no new canal in place, so the 4th canal has been in
operational use since 1932 and is still in use today. The 3rd canal however is not in use anymore
by the time of this image, and has started to deteriorate. Much of the locks are barely visible
anymore and have not been in use since their closer in 1932.

P a g e | 4
James Stavridis
6. Change Detection
H.
Lock Number 1934 Visibility 2003 Visibility Comments
11 Visible Partly Visible
20 Partly Visible Not Visible
The lake has expandedfromthe
1934 images,makingthislock
not possible tosee
21 Not Visible Not Visible
Thislock doesnotseemtobe
visible asthere isalake that has
formedbetweenthe 20th
and
22nd
locks.
22 Visible Visible
23 Partly Visible Partly Visible
24 Partly Visible Partly Visible
Table 1 - Lock Visibility in 1934 and in 2003.
Much of these locks are still visible in the year 1934, as the canal as only been closed for two
years. However, in 2003 these locks have been out of use for a long time, and are only very
slightly visible through the trees that have grown in the area and are very thin now.

P a g e | 5
James Stavridis
I.
The Fuller plan was formed by Reverend Thomas Fuller when he had plans to have the lands
between the Canadian National Railway and the two roads north and south of the images to be
used for housing. In the 1921 images, you can clearly see this land under construction and work
being done on this land. There are a few houses and roads that seem to be in the area, along
with striations from the equipment and construction that could be happening in the area. This
would mean that Fuller plan was still in the process of being done at the time of the images.
However in the 1934 images, the land is much different than what the land looked like in 1921.
The land does not seem to have as much human activity in the area as in did 13 years prior.
There are still roads that go through the area, but the houses and striations are not there
anymore. It seems that the natural land is starting to re-take the area. This would mean that
the Fuller plan has officially been stopped and there is no more construction in the area. With
the area not being touched by human activities, it is allowing the land to go back to what it
used to be.
The IKONOS image of the area in 2003 shows that the area has changed a lot since the Fuller
plan has been cancelled almost 80 years prior. The land is now covered with vegetation after
the human activities in the area has stopped. The roads are barely visible but may still be there,
however you cannot see them with all the vegetation in the area.
J.
The wedge shaped landform at location A of to A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG) that was
visible in 1921 and 1934 are clearly not there anymore in the 2003 IKONOS image. This is
because these striations would disappear over time with less and less construction in the area.
Since the construction was complete in 1932, nothing has been driven over this area in 70 years
the land is being allowed to repair itself and be allowed to reform vegetation. It is visible in the
1934 images because it would take more than two years for this to happen, but it is noticeable
in the 2003 images because it has been so long.
G.
Please refer to appendix B for the 1934 images above the IKONOS image, and appendix C for
the 1921 images above the IKONOS image. Both of these images were completed in ArcMap
using the georeferencing tool.

P a g e | 6
James Stavridis
Appendix A

P a g e | 7
James Stavridis
Appendix B

P a g e | 8
James Stavridis
Appendix C

STAVRIDISJGISC9231D3 (1)

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to STAVRIDISJGISC9231D3 (1)

Similar to STAVRIDISJGISC9231D3 (1) (20)

STAVRIDISJGISC9231D3 (1)