Overview of the NERC airborne thematic mapper campaign of September 1982

Abstract In September 1982, NERC funded an airborne campaign using a Daedulus airborne thematic mapper multispectral scanner. A total of 18 sites were flown for 10 experimental groups in the U.K. The major aim of the survey was to provide spectrally simulated satellite data for small test sites, particularly in support of ongoing LANDSAT-4 investigations. However, the survey demonstrated that in certain situations when timely satellite data cannot reasonably be expected, e.g. tidal sites, aircraft provide an important data set. This brief paper provides a summary of the NERC airborne campaign and an introduction to the related papers to be found in this issue.