Author Description

Both locally (San Francisco Bay Area) and nationally, evidence is mounting that particulate matter poses a serious health risk. Locally, concentrations of 10 micron particles are highest on cold nights, during the months of December and January. Analysis of the composition of these 10 micron particles suggests that a large percentage is wood smoke. Currently, there are no adequate ways to estimate the number of lit fireplaces on a given night. NASA Ames Research Center, the Naval Postgraduate School and San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District performed a joint research project to determine the feasibility of using thermal imagery to detect lit fireplaces. This thesis addresses the use of an airborne multi-spectral remote sensing system to detect lit fireplaces. The focus will he on the remote sensing equipment used for fireplace detection, the development of the test plan, airborne data collection, ground truthing and data analysis.