The MISR Interactive eXplorer (MINX) software functions both as a general-purpose tool to visualize Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument data, and as a specialized tool to analyze properties of smoke, dust, and volcanic plumes. It includes high-level options to create map views of MISR orbit locations; scrollable, single-camera RGB (red-green-blue) images of MISR level 1B2 (L1B2) radiance data; and animations of the nine MISR camera images that provide a 3D perspective of the scenes that MISR has acquired.
The plume height capability provides an accurate estimate of the injection height of plumes that is needed by air quality and climate modelers. MISR provides global high-quality stereo height information, and this program uses that information to perform detailed height retrievals of aerosol plumes. Users can interactively digitize smoke, dust, or volcanic plumes and automatically retrieve heights and winds, and can also archive MISR albedos and aerosol properties, as well as fire power and brightness temperatures associated with smoke plumes derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data.
Some of the specialized options in MINX enable the user to do other tasks. Users can display plots of top-of-atmosphere bidirectional reflectance factors (BRFs) versus camera-angle for selected pixels. Images and animations can be saved to disk in various formats. Also, users can apply a geometric registration correction to warp camera images when the standard processing correction is inadequate. It is possible to difference the images of two MISR orbits that share a path (identical ground track), as well as to construct pseudo-color images by assigning different combinations of MISR channels (angle or spectral band) to the RGB display channels.
This software is an interactive application written in IDL and compiled into an IDL Virtual Machine (VM) ".sav" file.
This work was done by David Nelson of Columbus Technologies and Services Inc.; Michael Garay of Raytheon; David Diner, Charles Thompson, Jeffrey Hall, Brian Rheingans, and Dominic Mazzoni of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (626) 395-2322. Refer to NPO-45744.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
MISR Instrument Data Visualization
(reference NPO-45744) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document provides an overview of the MISR INteractive eXplorer (MINX), an interactive application developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for visualizing and analyzing data from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR). MINX is designed to serve both as a general-purpose tool for visualizing MISR data and as a specialized tool for analyzing properties of smoke and volcanic plumes, particularly focusing on plume height and velocity.
Key features of MINX include the ability to display plots of top-of-atmosphere Bidirectional Reflectance Factor (BRF) against camera angles for selected pixels, save images and animations in various formats, and apply geometric registration corrections to camera images. Users can also create pseudo-color images by combining different MISR camera outputs into RGB display channels. Additionally, MINX allows for the interactive digitization of smoke or volcanic plumes, enabling users to automatically retrieve associated properties such as heights, winds, albedos, aerosol properties, fire power, and brightness temperatures.
The application is built using IDL (Interactive Data Language) and requires the installation of the IDL Virtual Machine (VM) to run. Currently, MINX is available exclusively for Macintosh computers running OS X, with potential future versions for Windows and Linux depending on user interest.
The document also emphasizes the importance of the MISR instrument in providing valuable data for scientific research and technological applications. It includes references to additional resources such as documentation, a discussion forum, and examples of smoke plume analysis, which can enhance user understanding and engagement with the software.
Overall, the document serves as a technical support package that outlines the capabilities of MINX, its applications in visualizing and analyzing atmospheric phenomena, and the necessary steps for users to access and utilize the software effectively. It highlights the collaborative efforts of NASA and JPL in advancing aerospace-related technologies and encourages users to explore the innovative tools available for data visualization and analysis in the field of remote sensing.
