Black and White Aerial Photo: New Orleans

http://www.maproomblog.com/2005/09/more_new_orleans_satellite_photos.php

Black and white aerial photography is data gathered in the visible spectrum rather than in the infrared.  In this part of the electromagnetic spectrum, black and white color values are exactly what we see in the visible spectrum.  This aerial imagery allows us to analyze large areas of either developed or undeveloped land in a variety of different spatial resolutions.

The image above is a black and white aerial photograph of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Mississippi Coast.  Through  this image, we can see what areas of the city are inundated with water.  Because the reflectivities of urbanized areas are high, the areas of the city that are water free look white.  In contrast, the low reflectivity of water makes the areas of the city with water apparent.  In these areas you can see a gridded pattern were the tops of the building are still reflecting radiation but the water in the streets has low reflectivity.  Laissez les bons temps rouler!