Raymond Kokaly
Raymond Kokaly is an expert on the application of remote sensing and spectroscopy for vegetation and mineral characterization. His peer-reviewed publications on the use of spectroscopy include: quantifying biochemical content in leaf spectra, discriminating conifer species, examining post-fire surface cover, and characterizing the impact of oil contamination from the Deepwater Horizon spill.
His research has used multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing data from AVHRR, Landsat, Hyperion, AVIRIS, HyMap, and MODIS. Raymond created the PRISM software, a framework for archiving and analyzing spectroscopic data collected in the laboratory and the field and from remote sensing platforms. PRISM was applied to map surficial minerals across most of Afghanistan, covering more than 480,000 sq. km. an area about the size of the state of California.
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, 1996–present
Education and Certifications
University of Colorado at Boulder, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, 1993
Science and Products
Spectroscopic remote sensing for material identification, vegetation characterization, and mapping
PRISM: Processing routines in IDL for spectroscopic measurements (installation manual and user's guide, version 1.0)
Shoreline surveys of oil-impacted marsh in southern Louisiana, July to August 2010
DESI-Detection of early-season invasives (software-installation manual and user's guide version 1.0)
Detecting Cheatgrass on the Colorado Plateau using Landsat data: A tutorial for the DESI software
Mapping the distribution of materials in hyperspectral data using the USGS Material Identification and Characterization Algorithm (MICA)
Identifying materials by measuring and analyzing their reflectance spectra has been an important method in analytical chemistry for decades. Airborne and space-based imaging spectrometers allow scientists to detect materials and map their distributions across the landscape. With new satellite-borne hyperspectral sensors planned for the future, for example, HYSPIRI (HYPerspectral InfraRed Imager),
A method for quantitative mapping of thick oil spills using imaging spectroscopy
A rapid method for creating qualitative images indicative of thick oil emulsion on the ocean's surface from imaging spectrometer data
Estimated minimum discharge rates of the Deepwater Horizon spill— Interim report to the flow rate technical group from the Mass Balance Team
A Method for Qualitative Mapping of Thick Oil Spills Using Imaging Spectroscopy
Sample collection of ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California Wildfires
Mapping potentialy asbestos-bearing rocks using imaging spectroscopy
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Filter Total Items: 127
Spectroscopic remote sensing for material identification, vegetation characterization, and mapping
Identifying materials by measuring and analyzing their reflectance spectra has been an important procedure in analytical chemistry for decades. Airborne and space-based imaging spectrometers allow materials to be mapped across the landscape. With many existing airborne sensors and new satellite-borne sensors planned for the future, robust methods are needed to fully exploit the information contentAuthorsRaymond F. KokalyPRISM: Processing routines in IDL for spectroscopic measurements (installation manual and user's guide, version 1.0)
This report describes procedures for installing and using the U.S. Geological Survey Processing Routines in IDL for Spectroscopic Measurements (PRISM) software. PRISM provides a framework to conduct spectroscopic analysis of measurements made using laboratory, field, airborne, and space-based spectrometers. Using PRISM functions, the user can compare the spectra of materials of unknown compositionAuthorsRaymond F. KokalyShoreline surveys of oil-impacted marsh in southern Louisiana, July to August 2010
This report describes shoreline surveys conducted in the marshes of Louisiana in areas impacted by oil spilled from the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Three field expeditions were conducted on July 7-10, August 12-14, and August 24-26, 2010, in central Barataria Bay and the Bird's Foot area at the terminus of the Mississippi River delta. This preliminary reAuthorsRaymond F. Kokaly, David Heckman, JoAnn Holloway, Sarai C. Piazza, Brady R. Couvillion, Gregory D. Steyer, Christopher T. Mills, Todd M. HoefenDESI-Detection of early-season invasives (software-installation manual and user's guide version 1.0)
This report describes a software system for detecting early-season invasive plant species, such as cheatgrass. The report includes instructions for installing the software and serves as a user's guide in processing Landsat satellite remote sensing data to map the distributions of cheatgrass and other early-season invasive plants. The software was developed for application to the semi-arid regionsAuthorsRaymond F. KokalyDetecting Cheatgrass on the Colorado Plateau using Landsat data: A tutorial for the DESI software
Invasive plant species disrupt native ecosystems and cause economic harm to public lands. In this report, an example of applying the Detection of Early Season Invasives software to mapping cheatgrass infestations is given. A discussion of each step of the DESI process is given, including selection of Landsat images. Tutorial data, covering a semi-arid area in southern Utah, are distributed with thAuthorsRaymond F. KokalyMapping the distribution of materials in hyperspectral data using the USGS Material Identification and Characterization Algorithm (MICA)
Identifying materials by measuring and analyzing their reflectance spectra has been an important method in analytical chemistry for decades. Airborne and space-based imaging spectrometers allow scientists to detect materials and map their distributions across the landscape. With new satellite-borne hyperspectral sensors planned for the future, for example, HYSPIRI (HYPerspectral InfraRed Imager),
AuthorsRaymond F. Kokaly, T. V. V. King, Todd M. HoefenA method for quantitative mapping of thick oil spills using imaging spectroscopy
In response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a method of near-infrared imaging spectroscopic analysis was developed to map the locations of thick oil floating on water. Specifically, this method can be used to derive, in each image pixel, the oil-to-water ratio in oil emulsions, the sub-pixel areal fraction, and its thicknesses and volume within the limits of light penetraAuthorsRoger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, Ira Leifer, K. Eric Livo, Raymond F. Kokaly, Todd Hoefen, Sarah Lundeen, Michael Eastwood, Robert O. Green, Neil Pearson, Charles Sarture, Ian McCubbin, Dar Roberts, Eliza Bradley, Denis Steele, Thomas Ryan, Roseanne DominguezA rapid method for creating qualitative images indicative of thick oil emulsion on the ocean's surface from imaging spectrometer data
This report describes a method to create color-composite images indicative of thick oil:water emulsions on the surface of clear, deep ocean water by using normalized difference ratios derived from remotely sensed data collected by an imaging spectrometer. The spectral bands used in the normalized difference ratios are located in wavelength regions where the spectra of thick oil:water emulsions onAuthorsRaymond F. Kokaly, Todd M. Hoefen, K. Eric Livo, Gregg A. Swayze, Ira Leifer, Ian B. McCubbin, Michael L. Eastwood, Robert O. Green, Sarah R. Lundeen, Charles M. Sarture, Denis Steele, Thomas Ryan, Eliza S. Bradley, Dar A. RobertsEstimated minimum discharge rates of the Deepwater Horizon spill— Interim report to the flow rate technical group from the Mass Balance Team
All of the calculations and results in this report are preliminary and intended for the purpose, and only for the purpose, of aiding the incident team in assessing the extent of the spilled oil for ongoing response efforts. Other applications of this report are not authorized and are not considered valid. Because of time constraints and limitations of data available to the experts, many of their eAuthorsVictor F. Labson, Roger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, Todd M. Hoefen, Raymond F. Kokaly, K. Eric Livo, Michael H. Powers, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Gregory P. MeekerA Method for Qualitative Mapping of Thick Oil Spills Using Imaging Spectroscopy
A method is described to create qualitative images of thick oil in oil spills on water using near-infrared imaging spectroscopy data. The method uses simple 'three-point-band depths' computed for each pixel in an imaging spectrometer image cube using the organic absorption features due to chemical bonds in aliphatic hydrocarbons at 1.2, 1.7, and 2.3 microns. The method is not quantitative becauseAuthorsRoger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, Ira Leifer, K. Eric Livo, Sarah Lundeen, Michael Eastwood, Robert O. Green, Raymond F. Kokaly, Todd Hoefen, Charles Sarture, Ian McCubbin, Dar Roberts, Denis Steele, Thomas Ryan, Roseanne Dominguez, Neil PearsonSample collection of ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California Wildfires
Between November 2 through 9, 2007 scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected samples of ash and burned soils from 28 sites in six areas burned as a result of the Southern California wildfires of October 2007, including the Harris, Witch, Santiago, Ammo, Canyon, and Grass Valley Fires. The primary goal of this sampling and analysis effort was to understand how differences in ash aAuthorsTodd M. Hoefen, Raymond F. Kokaly, Deborah A. Martin, Carlton J. Rochester, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Greg Mendez, Eric G. Reichard, Robert N. FisherMapping potentialy asbestos-bearing rocks using imaging spectroscopy
Rock and soil that may contain naturally occurring asbestos (NOA), a known human carcinogen, were mapped in the Sierra Nevada, California, using the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) to determine if these materials could be uniquely identified with spectroscopy. Such information can be used to prepare or refine maps of areas that may contain minerals that can be asbestiform,AuthorsG.A. Swayze, R.F. Kokaly, C.T. Higgins, J.P. Clinkenbeard, R. N. Clark, H.A. Lowers, S. J. Sutley - Web Tools
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