Using of remote sensing filters in processing of the potential filed images

Remote sensing is the science and art of the gathering information about an object, area or phenomena by means of a device that is not in contact with the object, area andphenomena under investigation. In remote sensing, the interaction between an energysource (electromagnetic) and surface features (trees, rocks, soil) is recorded. Imageprocessing can be considered as an image-to-information-mapping procedure, whichprovides the image for future analysis. Image processing techniques usually employ a filter for selecting desired information. Filters are used for spatial image enhancement, forexample, to reduce noise or to sharpen blurred images. Such a processing techniqueworks on pixel values and produces a filtered image which the pixel values of whichdepend on its former neighbors. In this regard, the sunshading, viewshed, edgeenhancement, and majority filters are most commonly used as image processing filters. Incontrast with remote sensing, geophysical methods employ human agents for datacollection and interpretation. Potential geophysical field data, such as aeromagnetic andgravity data are collected by both government Geological Surveys and mineralexploration companies for a wide range of purposes, including geological mapping andmineral exploration. Since the measured data are presented in the form of a contour map,it can be considered as an image and image processing can apply on it. In addition, theseimages possess a large number of geological features, such as dykes, faults, and folding,which can disappear with disturbing noises. Consequently, the use of image processingtechniques for the purposes of noise reduction and edge enhancement of differentgeological features is necessary. In geophysical literature, derivative filters and localphase filters are the most applicable filters applied on potential field images. The mainintent of this study is to develop remote sensing filters, mentioned above, on potentialfiles images.