Each software program and guide that follows may be downloaded and used for all education uses.
Measuring Vegetation Health Software and Guides
Programs are listed in the following sequence of concepts: color, basics of digital images, and visualization and analysis tools. Utility programs are also available and are listed at the bottom of the list.
For each concept grouping, software is bundled for one-stop downloading. Or consider downloading all of the programs at once.
Download the proper version software for your computer: OSX (Mac), Mac "Classic" (OS9 and earlier), and Windows (PC). Several programs are being rewritten to Java for interactive web activities (no downloading needed) by Tom Whittaker at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Space Science and Engineering Center. These applet links are marked by "Java."
Software Requirements
- Programs that manipulate images require Quicktime 5 or later to be installed. If not installed, download for free: Mac PC/Windows.
- All software programs are "zipped". You will need the proper freeware utilities installed on your computer.
- Many programs, except the color programs, require a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
Guides
Interpreting Digital Images – Guided Activities involving Color, Digital Images, Light Measurements, Image Analysis
Compressed folder of pictures using in Interpreting Digital Images
Teacher Guide
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| Taking Digital Photos for Measurements – Illustrated Guide |
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| Making Length and Area Measurements with Digital Images using MVHimage |
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| Calculate Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Merged Visible and Infrared Digital Photos |
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Software Programs
Follow this basic sequence of software-based activities to learn how to interpret digital images.
| Complete Software Bundle |
Includes all programs listed below. |
OSX OS9 PC |
| Bundled Color Programs |
MixingColor, TriColor, GameTriColor, and ReportTriColor that are described below. |
OSX OS9 PC |
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Compare how colors mix using pigments and light.
Current Version: 4 –– Mini Tutorial
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OSX OS9 PC Java |
| TriColor |
Explore the colors created by mixing varying intensities of red, green, and blue light.
Current Version: 4 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC
Java |
| GameTriColor |
Test your ability to identify the intensities of the red, green, and blue components of a color on the computer screen. Play another person or against the computer.
Current Version: 6 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| ReportTriColor |
Measure how well you can identify the intensities or red, green, and blue for 10 random colors. A report is generated on-screen and in a text file.
Current Version: 7 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| Bundled Basics of Digital Image Programs |
PixelView (both versions) , ColorPicture, LeafAnalysis, SplitColors, FalseColor, SurfaceType, and SurfaceTypeRGB that are described below. |
OSX OS9 PC |
| PixelView |
Study the effects of changing the size of pixels for any digital picture (jpeg, gif, tiff, png, pict, pdf)–called pixelation.
Current Version: 4 –– Mini Tutorial and See Examples of the Impact of Pixels |
OSX OS9 PC |
PixelView
for
Demonstrations
and
Science Centers |
Same basic functions as PixelView but 10 "mystery" pictures are available in the window by clicking on their 2x2 pixel icon. Download includes pictures and text file (see details below). Requires 1024 x 768 screen setting.
Notes: Menu bars toggles on/off with control-M.
Place your own pictures into the folder with the software and when the program opens, these pictures are used. Size of pictures must by 512 x 512.
Names of pictures must be "mystery#.jpg". Put names of pictures (or clues up to 32 characters) in "mysterynames.txt" with the first line of text corresponding to mystery1.jpg.
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OSX
OS9
PC |
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Separate the red, green, and blue color components of any digital picture (jpeg, gif, tiff, png, pict, pdf).
Current Version: 6 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
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Designed for use in science centers, load two images (jpeg, gif, tiff, png, pict, pdf) and explore the red, green, and blue intensities at any pixel in either image. When used with pictures of plants, goal is for users to discover plants absorb most red and blue light and reflect more green light.
Current Version: 6 –– Very basic version of ColorPicture (use this Mini Tutorial for basics) designed for young children and/or science centers. Compare the colors in two pictures displayed in one window by clicking anywhere within the pictures. |
OSX OS9 PC |
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More advanced manipulation of the red, green, and blue color components of any digital picture (jpeg, gif, tiff, png, pict, pdf).
Current Version: 4 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| FalseColor |
Similar to ColorPicture, manipulate the color display components of a Landsat image from USGS Earthshots.
Current Version: 5 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| SurfaceType |
Use simplified tools to analyze the spatial and spectral information within a Landsat image from USGS Earthshots.
Most Current Version: 6 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| SurfaceTypeRGB |
Use simplified tools to analyze the spatial and spectral information any digital image .
Most Current Version: 2 –– See SurfaceType Mini Tutorial above. Very useful to examining digital photos from the International Space Station (EarthKAM). |
OSX OS9 PC |
| ForestAnalysis |
Simultaneously interact with maps of old growth forests for the United States from 1620, 1850, 1926, and 1990.
Used to support Chapter 3 of A New World View created by Lawrence Hall of Science.
Current Version: 6 –– A New World View Activity: Measuring Old Growth Forest Loss |
OSX OS9 PC |
| Bundled Image Analysis Programs |
LandSatAnalysis, VegetationAnalysis, and MVHimage that are described below. |
OSX OS9 PC |
| LandSatAnalysis |
Use more advanced tools to analyze the spatial and spectral information within a Landsat image from USGS Earthshots.
Current Version: 4 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| VegetationAnalysis |
Use more advanced tools to study the spatial and spectral information within a time series of Landsat images from USGS Earthshots.
Current Version: 5 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| MVHimage |
Use more advanced tools to analyze the spatial and color information within any digital image (jpeg, gif, tiff, png, pict, pdf) - digital photos, color-coded maps, orthophotographs, satellite images.
Special Feature: Save color, length, and area measurements directly to a tab-delimited text file which may be used by any graphing spreadsheet program, such as Excel, to analyze your results. No entry of data by hand!
New Features: Save color thresholds to improve color-coded map analysis. Also, improved format of text file of measurements makes working with spreadsheets easier.
Current Version: 8 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| Bundled Utility Programs |
MergePictures, SatImageMaker, ColorScale, and FilterCombo that are described below. |
OSX OS9 PC |
| MergePictures |
Utility to combine sequence of time lapse images into one image.
Current Version: 4 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| SatImageMaker |
Utility, when combined with ColorPicture, that makes Landsat color composite from visible and infrared photos.
Current Version: 4 –– For more information, see the guide "Calculate Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Merged Visible and Infrared Digital Photos" that is listed at the top of the page. |
OSX OS9 PC |
| ColorScale |
Explore the utility of different color scales using combinations of red, green, and blue.
Current Version: 6 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
| FilterCombo |
Calculate the spectrum of light passing through a combination of filters available for theater lighting (Rosco, Lee, Apollo, etc.).
Current Version: 2 –– Mini Tutorial |
OSX OS9 PC |
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