Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias

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Map 8. A View from Space 1995

Richard Wright

The view in Map 8 is a false color infrared image developed from SPOT (Satellite pour l'observation de la Terre) Image Corporation satellite data that were remotely sensed during the summer of 1995. The image was created by merging panchromatic (black and white) digital data, having a spatial resolution of 32.8 feet (10 meters), with selected bands from multispectral digital data having a spatial resolution of 65.6 feet (20 meters). This composite data set thus combines the best attributes of each imagery type, that is, panchromatic with fine spatial resolution and low spectral resolution plus multispectral with coarse spatial resolution and high spectral differentiation. Thus, the panchromatic data distinguish smaller features than the multispectral, whereas the latter allow a greater differentiation of features having different reflectant values. For example, highly vegetated areas appear in shades of red, whereas urban sections are shown in white or light tones. After the composite was generated, its geometry was altered so that it corresponds to that of a standard USGS or INEGI topographic map. This was accomplished by correcting the image to the ups and downs of the earth's surface (called terrain correction) and to points of known location, a process known as horizontal rectification.

As the reader can see, large sections of the planning area are highly urbanized. The major vegetated areas are found in the lower Tijuana River Valley and on the slopes of Otay Mountain. The Río Alamar has large areas of riparian vegetation and small amounts of vegetation are visible in some of the steep canyons on the western edge of the International Border Planning Area in Tijuana. The channelization of the Tijuana River is also obvious in the satellite image. The airports on Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay are clearly visible, as is the Naval Air Station in Imperial Beach. Vacant land suitable for development can be seen mainly on Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay. There is a large area on Mesa de Otay to the east of the Garita Mesa de Otay and north of the visible cluster of industrial buildings that is being built out as industrial sites. Farther to the east, the edge of the residential area of Mesa de Otay is to be found part way up the slopes of Otay Mountain.

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Parque de la Amistad on Mesa de Otay. 2000.

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Parque de la Amistad on Mesa de Otay. 2000.

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Playas Highway as it crosses Goat Canyon and cuts through the western hills to Playas de Tijuana. 2000.

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Typical wait at San Ysidro-puerta México border crossing. 2000.