GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1
2. Purpose ..................................................................................................... 1
3. Methodology ............................................................................................ 1
4. Procedure ................................................................................................. 2
5. Conclusion .............................................................................................. 19
6. Bibliography ............................................................................................ 20
List of Figures
Figure 1: The Third Canal in 1934……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
Figure 2: The Fourth Canal in 1934…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Figure 3: Formation at Location A. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
Figure 4: Feature B. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5
Figure 5: Feature C…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…6
Figure 6: Study Area in 1921. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7
Figure 7: Feature B. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
Figure 8: Ship passing through the Third Canal……………………………………………………………………………………………………9
Figure 9: Both Canals in 1921………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10
Figure 10: Both Canals in 2003……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11
Figure 11: Study Area. 1934 images atop on 2003 Image. ………………………………………………………………………………….12
Figure 12: The Lands of the Fuller Plan in 1921…………………………………………………………………………………………………..14
Figure 13: The Lands of the Fuller Plan in 1934…………………………………………………………………………………………………..15
Figure 14: The feature in 1921 and 1934…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16
Figure 15: Georeferenced 1934 Imagery Overlaid atop the IKONOS satellite image ………………………………………..…17
Figure 16: Georeferenced 1921 Imagery Overlaid atop the IKONOS satellite image……………………………………………18
List of Tables
Table 1: 1934 and 2003 Images Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…13
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
1. Introduction
Digital image processing involves the manipulation and interpretation of digital images with
the help of a computer. The primary goal of this assignment was to analyze spatial
differences and changes regarding the certain area near the Third and Fourth Welland
Canals. Three types of digital images have been given to analyze: three scanned aerial
images for 1934 year, four scanned images for 1921 year, and one multispectral image for
2003 year that has already been georeferenced. Thus, one certain area but in three
different years should be analyzed for change detection during this assignment.
2. Purpose
 To gain a practical ability to georeference aerial images, using ESRI’s ArcGIS,
 To gain a basic practical familiarity with the undertaking and reporting of a change
detection analysis.
3. Methodology
Three types of digital images have been given to analyze changes in three years: 1921, 1934,
and 2003. Already georeferenced multispectral image has been given. It was needed to make
georeferences for the rest images using Georeference tool in ArcGIS and detect changes that
had appeared in the certain area in 1921, 1934, and 2003 years.
To georeference something means to define its existence in physical space. That is, establishing
its location in terms of map projections or coordinate systems.
Using Georeference tool in ArcGIS we needed to find ‘control points’ in one not georeferenced
image and connect it with the same ‘control points’ in already georeferenced image. As more
points are involved, as more accurate georeference is. However, three points is usually enough.
Usage the Swipe Layer in Effects Toolbar allows effortlessly compare one image from another .
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
4. Procedure
1934 Aerial Images (A4873_19, A4873_20 and A4873_21)
a) What was the operational status of each of the canals in 1934? Why do you draw
this conclusion?
I think that the third canal (eastern canal) was no longer in usage in 1934. I can infer it by dried
or partly dried chambers and locks (Figure 1).
Figure 1: The Third Canal in 1934.
By long shadows in the locks I can assume that there is no water there as well as in the
reservoir supplies (slightly westerly from the locks) which used to regulate the water level in
the locks by pumping water over the Ontario Lake to the chambers and locks.
The fourth canal was in usage in 1934. Figure 2 portrays that it had straight lines, and filled with
water, gates are closed. All the bridges across the canal were already built and seem to be
operational. Furthermore, I cannot notice any evidences of construction activity at that
moment.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
Figure 2: The Fourth Canal in 1934.
Also, all buildings for maintenance and operating the canal were built in 1934 (at the bottom of
the Figure 2).
Thus, the fourth canal was in usage in 1934, and the third canal was no longer in usage.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
b) Referring to A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG), what is the wedge shaped
formation at location A? What are the striations?
This formation is situated between the fourth and the third canals (Feature 3). This feature is
located adjacent to railroad and crossed by several roads or pathways. The formation has
unusual wedge shape. There are striations which is the evidence of construction activity. Also,
by shadow I can infer that the formation is not flat and has an elevation. Moreover, the northeastern part of the feature is higher than south- western.
Figure 3: Formation at Location A.
I would assume that the formation is the earth embankment created during the canal or tunnel
construction. This embankment is soil that has been excavated during the 4 canal construction.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
c) Again, referring to A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG), what is the linear feature
at location B? What was its status in 1934 (was it actively being used)? What is
your evidence?
This linear feature is situated at the south of the railroad and is crossed by the third canal. This
feature discontinues by the canal and continues after crossing the canal. By huge shadow atop
the feature I can infer that there is a depression. Consequently, this feature is a ditch excavated
in the ground. It has equal width with canals’ locks. Therefore, the ditch is rather wide. This
feature has unnatural straight shape- the sign of constructed object.
Figure 4: Feature B.
Thus, this linear feature is a part of railway tunnel under the third canal. I think that in 1934 it
was no longer or rarely in usage. I can infer it by the vegetation on the railways at the right-top
of the figure 4 (red circle). That is a sign of poor maintenance this part of railway road.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
d) Again, referring to A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG), why do you suppose the
pond at C existed? Support your hypothesis thoroughly.
This feature has unique pattern and shape. By the tone and colour of feature I can assume that
it is water (Feature 5).
Figure 5: Feature C
These two water features probably have been a part of one big pond that had been appeared
because of canal activity or canal construction. If we appeal to earlier images of this area, this
pond didn’t exist in 1921 (Figure 6). With canal 4 construction and canal 3 modification, man
had intervened to ecosystem of this area and this pond has appeared. Narrow streams from the
north to the south, as well as from the crop field at the west, have filled this pond (Figure 5).
From the figure 5 we can learn that constructors have been trying to eliminate this pond by
filling it up with soil (light and dark- tone striations).
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
Figure 6: Study Area in 1921.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
e) Again, referring to A4873-20 Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG), what is area E? Justify
your hypothesis.
This huge feature is located between two canals and has straight shape, divided by several
zones which could be a sign of human activity (Figure 7). At the left of the feature there is a
road. Also, there is a water streams that cross this area (dark curved lines).
The color of different parts of the area is different which is the sign of dry and wet soil.
Boundaries of these areas are unnaturally straight. Moreover, there are straight vertical lines
on these parts which could be crop rows. Thus, this huge area is a crop fields. Moreover, this
crop fields could be abandoned because of canal construction. Referring to the previous
question, ecosystem of this area has been changed due to the canal activity or canal
construction.
Figure 7: Feature B.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
1921 Aerial Images (H20-1, H20-2, H22-25, H22-91)
f) What was the operational status of each of the canals in 1921? Why do you draw
this conclusion? (5 marks)
The third canal was in usage, and the fourth canal was under construction in 1921. Figure 6
portrays that chamber locks of the third canal (yellow circle in figure 8) were full of water,
locks had straight boundaries. Canal was well maintained. Furthermore, there is a ship
passing through the 12 lock. Southern gate of the lock is opened.
Figure 8: Ship passing through the Third Canal
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
The fourth canal surface is multicoloured (two- coloured actually since the image is black
and white) which is an evidence that the canal wasn’t full of water (red rectangle in figure
9). Black coloured straight lines could be wet soil and white coloured straight lines could be
dry soil. I can notice that gates separated one chamber from another as well as bridges
were already built. That could mean that the fourth canal was already partly excavated.
Thus, the third canal was in usage, and the fourth canal was under construction in 1921.
Figure 9: Both Canals in 1921
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
2003 Satellite Imagery (IKONOS Multispectral Imagery)
g) What was the operational status of each of the canals in 2003? Why do you draw
this conclusion? (5 marks)
By analyzing the 2003 Satellite Imagery (IKONOS Multispectral Imagery) I can infer that
the fourth canal was in active usage. It is full of water, has straigt lines, all supplies was
well maintained. Furthermore, there were two ships passing the canal (red circles in
figure 10).
Lets examine area within the yellow circle at figure 10. It is a part of the third canal.
There is a gate separated two chambers from each other (at the center of figure 10).
Water colour at the north from the gate is different from water colour at the south from
the gate. That means that water from the south hadn’t been mixing with water from the
north of the gate. Consequently, this gate had been closed for a long time. Another
obvious evidence of closed third canal is huge vegetation that formed curved boundary
of the third canal which is a sign of poorly maintained canal.
Figure 10: Both Canals in 2003
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
Change Detection
h) Figure 1 above as well as H22-25 Welland Canal Locks 1921 (JPEG) and H22-91
Welland Canal Locks 1921 (JPEG) show the lock numbering system in 1921 for the
3rd canal. Create a table that shows how locks 11 through 24 are/are-not visible to
our remote sensing platforms in 1934 and 2003. For each year, note whether the
lock is visible, partly visible, not visible or not shown on the imagery. For nonvisible locks, add a comment column to your table detailing why the lock is no
longer visible.
Figure 11: Study Area. 1934 Images atop on 2003 Image.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
Number
of Lock
1934
Images
11
Visible
12
Visible
13
Visible
14
Visible
15
Visible
16
Visible
17
Visible
18
Visible
19
Partly
visible
20
21
22
23
24
Not
visible
Partly
visible
Partly
visible
Not
shown
Not
shown
Comment
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable. Area around the
lock was partially submerged
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable. Area around the
lock was partially submerged
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable
Poorly maintained but
distinguishable
Only northern part of lock is visible.
Lock has been rebuilt and changed
its direction from south west to
south.
Submerged due to 4 canal
construction
Partially submerged, vegetation,
poorly maintained, abandoned lock
No longer in usage, vegetation,
poorly maintained, abandoned lock
Out of image boundary
Out of image boundary
2003
Image
Comment
Partly
visible
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Partly
visible
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Partly
visible
Partly
visible
Partly
visible
Partly
visible
Partly
Visible
Partly
Visible
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Poorly maintained, vegetation,
abandoned lock, flooded with water
Not
visible
Lock has been rebuilt. In that place.
Actual 19 lock is hidden by vegetation.
Only
Not
visible
Partly
visible
Partly
visible
Not
visible
Not
visible
Submerged due to 4 canal construction
Partially submerged, vegetation, poorly
maintained, abandoned lock
No longer in usage, vegetation, poorly
maintained, abandoned lock
No longer exists due to 4 canal
construction
No longer exists due to 4 canal
construction
Table 1: 1934 and 2003 Images Analysis.
Both images have been georeferenced and analyzed using Swipe Layer in Effects Tools of
ArcMap. In 1934 and 2003 the third canal was no longer in usage. In 2003 there was much more
vegetation around the locks than in 1934 which is an evidence of poorly maintained and
abandoned canal. One lock is not visible due to submergence the area it was situated. Almost
all locks in 2003 are not visible or hard to distinguish because of vegetation and poor
maintenance of the canal. Nobody has been preventing nature from growing. In 1934 almost all
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
locks are visible because not too much time passed after canal abandonment. Also, one lock is
not visible due to submergence the area it was situated. Area has been submereged during the
fourth canal construction.
i) Describe the changes within the lands of the Fuller Plan from 1921 through 1934 to
2003. Speculate why these changes occurred.
The lands of the Fuller Plan It are bounded by the Canadian National Railway (C.N.R.) and two
roads. This parcel belonged to Reverend Thomas Fuller who originally had plans to subdivide
the land for housing. The plan never came to fruition.
Figure 9 portrays that in 1921 there were few houses or barns, crop fields, pathways, and man
planted trees (trees have particular order, not wild vegetation) within the Fuller Plan area
(Figure 12). Consequently, this area was occupied and actively used for agricultural and other
purposes. There was a construction of fourth canal at the west from the Fuller Plan in 1921.
Also, Fuller Plan was crossed by tunnel.
Figure 12: The Lands of the Fuller Plan in 1921
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
Fourth canal construction was operated in 1934. The third canal was already closed and
abandoned. Figure 13 shows the lands of the Fuller Plan in 1934. There were no buildings in this
area as well as crop fields. I assume that this area was abandoned. There were no crop fields,
buildings, no signs of human activity within this area in 1934. Possibly, buildings have been
dismantled, moved to another place then, and assembled again (it was common practice in
wooden buildings construction). The land owner has left this area for some reasons. One of the
reasons for this could be dissatisfaction with association with construction object or fear of
ghosts from the Blue Ghost Tunnel.
Figure 13: The Lands of the Fuller Plan in 1934
j) What happened to the wedge shaped landform at location A of to A4873-20
Welland Canals 1934 (JPEG) that was visible in 1921 and 1934? Support your
hypothesis.
Referring to the question b, this embankment is soil that has been excavated during the canal
construction. Figure 14 portrays that the feature was brighter in 1921 than in 1934. It could be
a sign of dry soil. In 1921 the 4 canal was under construction, and in 1934 it was already built.
By shadows examination in the north of the feature in the 1921 image, I can assume that this
feature has an elevation. This feature is embankment of soil that has been excavated during the
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
canal construction. However, this embankment in 1921 had less height than in 1934 (I can infer
it by shadows as well). Also, in the 1921 image there are rail or road trails with vehicles (yellow
circles in Figure 14) that carried excavated soil from the canal. These vehicles carried soil to the
certain point and excavator moved soil to form embankment then.
Thus, this feature became higher in 1921 than in 1934 due to excavated soil.
Figure 14: The feature in 1921 and 1934
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
k) Create two figures for your report that show (via screen save or formal ArcGIS
layout) the georeferenced imagery overlaid atop the IKONOS satellite image. One
Figure for the 1921 imagery and one for the 1934 imagery. (16 marks)
Figure 15: Georeferenced 1934 Imagery Overlaid atop the IKONOS satellite image
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
Figure 16: Georeferenced 1921 Imagery Overlaid atop the IKONOS satellite image
Both imagery have been georeferenced using Georeference tool in ArcGIS (Figures 15,16)
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
5. Conclusion
Basic principles of change analysis as well as temporal space change have been obtained. Also,
skills to georeference aerial images have been obtained.
It is crucial to be attentive during georeference and choose only permanent objects; for
example, buildings, bridges, monuments, and so on. Change analysis strongly depends on the
quality of georeference.
Also, knowledge of application remote sensing image interpretation has been obtained.
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GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
Deliverable 3: Georeferencing of Scanned
Aerial Imagery and Change Detection
Final Report
6. Bibliography
1. Lectures GISC9231 – Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation
2. Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation / Thomas M. Lillesand, Ralph W.
Kiefer, Jonathan W. Chipman – 2nd ed.
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