Determining The Locations of Calcium Deposits in Iraq Using Image Processing and Satellite Images

Abstract

This study employs a photometric technique to investigate the intensity of color gradients within image pixels. The MATLAB software was developed to evaluate laser spots by computing the average wavelength from pixel values in pictures, resulting in an overall error rate ranging from 1% to 10%, depending on the exact laser wavelength examined.  The program executes pixel-wise wavelength estimation by transforming color intensity gradients into wavelength values and then conducts statistical analysis of several laser spots to ensure precision.  These techniques facilitated the identification of spectral lines corresponding to the mean wavelength of each laser source. The methodology was initially validated by measuring the monochromatic wavelengths of the laser beams. The MATLAB program for image processing effectively identified laser wavelengths at 325, 473, 477, 535, 603, and 785 nm, producing outstanding results with negligible error rates. This study employs advanced methods to identify specific wavelengths associated with naturally occurring elements in soil or land. The methodology emphasizes the distinct wavelength properties of each element, incorporating Google Earth Maps for spatial analysis and MATLAB for data processing and visualization. The land area was progressively enlarged to identify the calcium deposit fields until it reached an elevation of approximately 700 m above sea level, with an image width of only 200 m, resulting in each pixel representing only 24 cm. A calcium deposit field in the Anbar region was selected as the specimen for the unexamined calcium field. The analysis identified calcium deposit locations on the map, demonstrating that Iraq possesses abundant calcium resources, particularly in the western and southwestern regions. The findings of this study enable companies to precisely identify calcium-rich areas, thereby minimizing extensive fieldwork, conserving financial resources, and decreasing the time required to locate the sources of this element and its compounds.