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4.5 Image Visualization

In addition to analyzing a single image, combinations of images were used to provide a broader view of the Earth. In some cases, several overlapping images were acquired. These series of images were pieced together to show a swath crossing a broad region, which revealed borders, terrain changes, and coastal crossings. In some cases, the overlap is sufficient for a stereo pair to be viewed, creating a three-dimensional effect. Students could manipulate images into a series and stereo pairs in their classrooms using NIH Image (see Sections 9.4 and 9.6 for more on series and stereo pairs).

A more exotic way of viewing an image is to "fly" over and around it. The Digital Image Animation Lab (DIAL) has a visualization tool that uses topographical data and a KidSat image to create an animation or "flyby" of a specific area of the picture (see Appendix C to obtain a copy of the video). Students working with the DIAL produced videotapes of the flybys for a few selected images. In the future, it may be possible for any student to interactively explore KidSat images and videos through self-directed flybys.

Before the first flight, the Data System team produced two flybys using existing shuttle photographs. These flybys were along paths requested by the Core Curriculum Design Team for use in the "Impact of Water on Earth" curriculum module. For the first flight, a flyby using a KidSat image of Saudi Arabia was generated and released to the classrooms and the world, using NTV. This volcanic region in Saudi Arabia was selected because it was the only image containing interesting topography that was cloud-free.

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Figure 39: Student exploration reports on the walls in John McGuire's classroom at Pacific Union School.

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