memorial to robert joseph hackman 1923-1980€¦ · use with a stereoscope, and various types of...

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JOHN S. POMEROY U.S. Geological Survey, National Center, Reston, Virginia 22092 Robert Joseph Hackman died at the Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, Virginia, May 17, 1980, ending a 30-year career of innovative and pioneering achievements in the appli- cation of remote-sensing techniques to U.S. Geological Survey programs. He is survived by his wife, the former Bettie Smysor, a geologist, who is employed by the U.S. Geological Survey at Reston, Virginia. Bob was born in Omaha, Nebraska, March 25, 1923. Soon after graduating from South Omaha High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country with distinction in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. After nearly six years of mili- tary service, Bob attended Stanford University for several years and later received his B.S. degree in geology from American University in Washington, D.C. Bob’s first full-time assignment with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was with the Navy Oil Unit of the Alaskan Geology Branch. He interpreted aerial photographs, and, using these photographs together with the available field data, he prepared geologic maps of Naval Petroleum Reserve N. 4 in northern Alaska. His maps have been used extensive- ly in subsequent petroleum exploration on the North Slope. Bob’s increasing interest in photogrammetry and photointerpretation led him to sup- plement his background in geology with formal courses in these subjects at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School. Between 1952 and 1959, Bob completed the photogeologic mapping of 70 quadrangles on the Colorado Plateau; most of these maps were published. During the uranium boom, these maps were extensively used by prospectors and mining companies in their search for the ore. During this productive period, Bob’s imagination and curiosity led him to invent several photogrammetric instruments, including the Stereo-Slope Comparator, the Isopa- chometer, an adjustable profile plotter for the Kelsh and Multiplex Plotters, a circular trigonometric computer for geologic measurements, several models of photo holders for use with a stereoscope, and various types of stereoscopes. A U.S. patent was granted to the Federal Government for the Isopachometer. The Stereo-Slope Comparator has been manufactured and sold throughout the world; this instrument has been used to demon- strate vertical exaggeration and for rapid measurement of slope angles in the stereoscopic model. Bob’s expertise was utilized in the many training programs set up in the Geologic Division of the Survey for instructing hundreds of other geologists (domestic and foreign) in the application of photogrammetry and photointerpretation to geology. Bob’s intuitive mind was challenged in 1959 to apply photogeologic methods to a terrain study of the lunar surface. Bob conducted this research before either the Astro- geology Branch of the USGS or NASA existed. During the next few years, not only did he develop technology needed for viewing telescopic photographs of the Moon stereo- scopically, but after careful experimentation, he completed the first comprehensive geo- Memorial to Robert Joseph Hackman 1923-1980

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  • JOHN S. POMEROYU.S. Geological Survey, National Center, Reston, Virginia 22092

    Robert Joseph Hackman died at the Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, Virginia, May 17, 1980, ending a 30-year career of innovative and pioneering achievements in the application of remote-sensing techniques to U.S. Geological Survey programs. He is survived by his wife, the former Bettie Smysor, a geologist, who is employed by the U.S. Geological Survey at Reston, Virginia.

    Bob was born in Omaha, Nebraska, March 25, 1923. Soon after graduating from South Omaha High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country with distinction in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. After nearly six years of military service, Bob attended Stanford University for several years and later received his B.S. degree in geology from American University in Washington, D.C.

    Bob’s first full-time assignment with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was with the Navy Oil Unit of the Alaskan Geology Branch. He interpreted aerial photographs, and, using these photographs together with the available field data, he prepared geologic maps of Naval Petroleum Reserve N. 4 in northern Alaska. His maps have been used extensively in subsequent petroleum exploration on the North Slope.

    Bob’s increasing interest in photogrammetry and photointerpretation led him to supplement his background in geology with formal courses in these subjects at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School.

    Between 1952 and 1959, Bob completed the photogeologic mapping of 70 quadrangles on the Colorado Plateau; most of these maps were published. During the uranium boom, these maps were extensively used by prospectors and mining companies in their search for the ore. During this productive period, Bob’s imagination and curiosity led him to invent several photogrammetric instruments, including the Stereo-Slope Comparator, the Isopa- chometer, an adjustable profile plotter for the Kelsh and Multiplex Plotters, a circular trigonometric computer for geologic measurements, several models of photo holders for use with a stereoscope, and various types of stereoscopes. A U.S. patent was granted to the Federal Government for the Isopachometer. The Stereo-Slope Com parator has been manufactured and sold throughout the world; this instrument has been used to demonstrate vertical exaggeration and for rapid measurement of slope angles in the stereoscopic model. Bob’s expertise was utilized in the many training programs set up in the Geologic Division of the Survey for instructing hundreds of other geologists (domestic and foreign) in the application of photogrammetry and photointerpretation to geology.

    Bob’s intuitive mind was challenged in 1959 to apply photogeologic methods to a terrain study of the lunar surface. Bob conducted this research before either the Astro- geology Branch of the USGS or NASA existed. During the next few years, not only did he develop technology needed for viewing telescopic photographs of the Moon stereo- scopically, but after careful experimentation, he completed the first comprehensive geo-

    Memorial to Robert Joseph Hackman1923-1980

  • 2 TH E GEO LO G ICA L SOCIETY O F AM ERICA

    logic and physiographic map of the Moon produced in the United States. Because of the heavy demand by the scientific and public community, several printings were necessary. He later published two 1:1,000,000-scale maps of quadrangles on the lunar surface, which showed considerable structural and stratigraphic detail. Furthermore, he completed a size-frequency distribution study of lunar craters and prepared an isotonal map of part of the lunar surface by measurements of film density.

    Bob became a vital part of an extensive 1° X 2° quadrangle mapping program on the Colorado Plateau in 1964. According to his supervisor, Bob contributed more than any other geologist to the project. In addition to producing painstakingly detailed but readable maps showing stratigraphy, structure, and uranium deposits, he completed innovative special-purpose land-use maps. Bob conducted research and published an evaluation of radar, color, and 3- to 5-micron infrared imagery. He pioneered studies with plaster models on the use of low-sun-angle photography for the detection of subtle topographic features. Soon after Bob began this segment of his career, he was called upon to evaluate the 1964 Alaska postearthquake photography. His skills were utilized in an earthquake- damage terrain study based on the examination of 2,000 color aerial photographs covering an area of more than 5,000 km2. His report was published in two journals and was widely consulted.

    Beginning in 1974 and until the time of his death, Bob studied mass movement in the Appalachian Plateaus. Specifically, he studied slope stability in an extremely slide-prone area centered in West Virginia. He produced 128 open-file quadrangle maps at a scale of 1:24,000 based on a combination of photointerpretation and field investigations. The maps show recent and older landslides and slopes susceptible to sliding; they also classify surface coal mines and refuse dumps. To date, the maps have been extensively used by both State and Federal agencies and by several private companies. During this period, Bob supervised the operation of the Kern PG-2 Plotter in the Geologic Division at the USGS National Center, Reston, Virginia. He became the Survey’s representative for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the Federal Highways Administration photomontage project. He became a contributing author for a chapter on terrain and mineral assessment evaluation in the Manual o f Remote Sensing published by the American Society of Photogrammetry.

    Bob chose his profession well, because he loved the out-of-doors and was an active participant in Trout Unlimited, National Audubon Society, and the Sierra Club. Fishing, hiking, and spelunking were favorite pastimes. Before he became a full-time employee in the USGS, Bob had explored caves in Alaska, Hawaii, California, Virginia, West Virginia, and Bermuda. Bob’s enthusiasm for speleology was evident in a manuscript written while at Stanford University. During his mid-twenties, he spent summers excavating fossil remains with a University of Nebraska field party and surveying in Alaska with the USGS Topographic Division. Bob found significant artifacts in Alaska in 1950 and was co-author of a paper about them with a Smithsonian archeologist. In later years, Bob shared his outdoor interests with Bettie in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and in the Colorado Rockies.

    He was a soft-spoken, kind, and unusually modest individual. Bob freely gave his time and talent in helping individual geologists master remote-sensing procedures. He was meticulous with his map work. Scientific illustrators from the Denver office praised the consistently excellent quality of his map copy submitted for drafting. One need only examine any of the published Colorado Plateau 1:250,000-scale geologic maps to appreciate the immense work that went into the compilation. Bob’s sense of duty was rewarded by several Superior Performance Awards and incentive awards for his inventions. His pro

  • M EM ORIAL TO RO B ER T JO SEPH HACKMAN 3

    fessional society affiliations included the Geological Society of America, Geological Society of Washington, American Society of Photogrammetry, and the Virginia Archeological Society.

    One of his former supervisors said of Bob: he was a “master of photogeologic methodology. Because of his imagination, sense of organization, and diligence in applying his mapping expertise in a variety of geologic settings, he was an invaluable and key scientist in the projects of which he was a member.” Another supervisor stated that “he was a practical innovator who contributed greatly to the development of photogeology as an energy- and mineral-finding tool. It was his work with models of Earth terrain that led to the selection of orbit time for Landsats 1, 2, and 3. There can be no question that Bob contributed towards easing our energy problems and improving our minerals posture.”

    The high caliber of Bob’s scientific research, combined with his ability to turn out sterling quality geologic maps, earned him a position of respect and admiration among those of us working with him.

    SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF R. J . HACKMAN

    1949 Speleology in southeastern Alaska: National Speleological Society Bulletin 11, p. 11-16.

    1951 (with Solecki, R. S.) Additional data on the Denbigh Flint Complex in northern Alaska: Washington Academy of Science Journal, v. 41, no. 3, p. 85-88.

    1956 The graphic construction of controlled stereoscopic models: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 22, no. 2, p. 287-291.

    ----- The Stereo-slope Comparator—An instrument for measuring angles of slope instereoscopic models: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 22, no. 5, p. 893-897.

    1957 A “ready-to-view” folder for stereoscopic pairs of vertical aerial photographs: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 23, no. 1, p. 189.

    ----- The “Flying Carpet”—A stereoscopic grid used in photointerpretation: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 23, no. 3, p. 593-594.

    ----- Photo holder for stereoscopic viewing: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 23, no. 4,p. 790-791.

    1960 The Isopachometer—A new type parallax bar: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 26, no. 3, p. 457-463.

    ----- Technique for viewing moon photographs stereoscopically: U.S. Geological SurveyProfessional Paper 400-B, p. B139—B141.

    1961 (and Mason, A. C.) Engineer special study of the surface of the Moon: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Map 1-351.

    ----- Photointerpretation of the lunar surface (with fold-in map supplement): Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 27, no. 3, p. 377-386.

    1962 Geologic map and sections of the Kepler region of the Moon: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Map 1-355.

    1963 (with Mason, A. C.) Photogeologic study of the Moon, in Kopal, Zdenek, and Mikhailov, Z. K., eds., The Moon: International Astronomical Union, Symposium no. 14, Leningrad, 1960: New York, Academic Press, p. 301-315.

    ----- (with Shoemaker, E. M.) Stratigraphic basis for a lunar time scale, in Kopal,Zdenek, and Mikhailov, Z. K., eds., The Moon: International Astronomical Union, Symposium, no. 14, Leningrad, 1960: New York Academic Press, p. 289-300.

  • 4 TH E G EO LO G ICA L SOCIETY O F AM ERICA

    1963 (with Shoemaker, E. M., and Eggleton, R. E.) Interplanetary correlation of geologic time—Advances in astronautical sciences: American Astronautical Society, v. 8, p. 70-89.

    1964 A lunar isotonal map: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 30, no. 6, p. 1011-1016.1965 Photointerpretation of Alaskan post-earthquake photography: Photogrammetric

    Engineering, v. 31, no. 4, p. 604-610.----- Lunar photogeologic mapping, in Photo-interpretation in the space science,

    1963-64, Report of Subcommittee VII, Photointerpretation Committee: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 13, no. 6, p. 1061 — 1062.

    1966 Geologic map of the Montes Apenninus region of the Moon: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Map 1-463.

    1967 Combination instrument for geologic compilation—A modified multiscope, multiplex tracing table, and focalmatic projector aid in transfer of photo data to topo base: Photogrammetric Engineering, v. 33, no. 4, p. 381-388.Time, shadows, terrain, and photointerpretation: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 575-B, p. B155—B160.Geologic evaluation of radar imagery in southern Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 575-D, D135-D142.

    1968 Interpretation of Alaskan post-earthquake photography, in The great Alaskan earth quake of 1964, Hydrology: National Academy of Science Publication 1603, pt. A, p. 40-46.

    1971 (with Williams, P. L.) Geology, structure, and uranium deposits of the Salina quadrangle, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Map 1-591.

    1973 (with Wyant, D. G.) Geology, structure, and uranium deposits of the Escalante Quadrangle, Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Map 1-744 [1974],

    1975 (contributing author) Terrain and minerals—Assessment and evaluation, Chap. 16, in Manual of remote sensing, v. 2, Photographic interpretation and application:Falls Church, Virginia, American Society of Photogrammetry, 1275 p.

    1977 (and Olson, A. B.) Geology, structure, and uranium deposits of the Gallup 1° by 2° quadrangle, Arizona and New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Map 1-981.

    1978 (with Haynes, D. D.) Geology, structure and uranium deposits of the Marble Canyon 1° X 2° quadrangle, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Map 1-1003.

    ----- (and Thomas, R. E.) Landslides and related features, Ohio, West Virginia, andPennsylvania—Clarksburg 1° by 2° sheet: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-1056. Includes 128 plates, scale 1:24,000.

    Prin ted in U .S.A . 4 /81