Lineament is defined as a line feature or pattern interpreted on a remote sensing image. The lineament reflects the geological structure such as faults or fractures. In this sense, the lineament extraction is very important for the application of remote sensing to geology. However the real meaning of lineament is still unclear. It should be discriminated from other line features that are not due to geological structures. Therefore the lineament extraction should be carefully interpreted by geologists.
Computer generated lineament would involve all linear features of natural terrain as well as artificial structures which have to be removed by interpretation.
Figure 12.8.1 shows an example of computer generated lineaments in the Southern Brazil region.
As lineaments can be interpreted very well on satellite images, geological survey methods have been advanced, particularly over large areas.
Lineament extraction is useful for geological analysis in oil exploration in which oil flow along faults, oil storage within faults and the oil layer can be estimated.
Lineament information can even allow analysis of the geological structure and history.
Copyright © 1996 Japan Association of Remote Sensing All rights reserved
