Home

MTR Data Processing and Analysis Wiki

This wiki will detail work done to date on methodology, analysis, and testing of SkyTruth's work using Google Earth Engine (EE). The goal of this project is to produce a comprehensive map of Mountaintop Removal Mining (MTR) in Appalachia from the current year dating back to 1984.

The EE script currently identifies MTR sites through the use of a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) based classifier. The original SkyTruth map used manual classification of spectral imagery to identify MTR sites.

###Goals

1. To produce a comprehensive map of MTR mining activity in Appalachia
2. To effectively measure the burden of reclamation
3. To infill gaps in the 2007 SkyTruth study, as well as update it with data from after 2005
4. To create an automated method of classifying MTR mining activity, in such a manner that it will be easily updated in the future.