Comparative Studies on the Extraction of Lineaments and Its Variability Based on an Improved Line Segment Tracking Method—Taking the Gaosong Ore Field in the Gejiu Gejiu Tin Ore Deposit as an Example

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The work presents an interesting way of comparing studies on the extraction of Lineaments and its variability based on the improved line segment tracking method.

 

The work needs a related works section to clearly identify the scientific contribution in relation to the works already published.

 

 At the end of the introduction session, the authors should describe what will be covered in the other work sessions.

 

It would be interesting to detail the losses regarding using a median filter to smooth the image and remove most of the noise in Figure 6. 

 

Please provide more details regarding the use of The low threshold was set to 0.03 and the high 0.11 in section 2.2.1.

 

There is scarcely detailed information regarding the traditional Canny algorithm being used to analyze Lineament strength and density in the same area in Figure 16 and Figure 17,

Author Response

First of all, I am very grateful to the editor for the review of the article and
the review comments given by the reviewers. Then I modified the article
according to the review comments of the reviewers. The specific modifications
are as follows：

Opinion 1: The work needs a related works section to clearly identify the
scientific contribution in relation to the works already published.

Reply: Add references [39] Liu Chunxue, Ni Chunzhong, Yan Yongfeng, et al.
Automatic extraction of linear structure based on remote sensing image [J].
Remote sensing technology and application, 2014 (2): 5.
[40] Yu, Chongwen, Jiang, et al. The Dynamic Mechanisms for the Formation of
Primary Metal Zoning of Cassiterite-Sulfide Deposits in the Gejiu Metallogenic
Province, Yunnan[J]. Acta Geologica Sinica English Edition, 1991.
The scientific contribution of this study to the geological research of Gejiu
mining area is clarified.

Opinion 2: At the end of the introduction session, the authors should describe
what will be covered in the other work sessions.

Reply: Add text at the end of the article" However, there are still some
problems, such as: a single line element cannot be identified as a linear
structure, resulting in some fractures cannot be identified; some large faults
cause linear structure connection discontinuity due to excessive turning.
To solve these problems, continuing to optimize the linear structure connection
program is the key to the next step".
Describes what will be covered in other work sessions.

Opinion 3: It would be interesting to detail the losses regarding using a median
filter to smooth the image and remove most of the noise in Figure 6.

Reply: Adding words" That is, select the pixel values of the pixels in the
remote sensing image and their surrounding adjacent pixels (a total of odd
pixels), sort these pixel values, and then use the pixel value in the middle
position as the pixel value of the current pixel, so that the surrounding pixel
value is closer to the real value, thereby eliminating isolated noise points.
Maintain the edge characteristics of the image so that the image does not
produce significant blur".
Details the use of median filters to smooth the images and remove most of the
noise.

Opinion 4: Please provide more details regarding the use of The low threshold
was set to 0.03 and the high 0.11 in section 2.2.1.

Reply: Adding words" In image edge detection, a threshold within a specified range is used to judge the edge of the image, so as to avoid the situation that the image edge specified by a certain threshold leads to blurred or lost edge of the image. The maximum upper threshold and the minimum lower threshold are determined in a specified range, and the image edges are set within the upper and lower threshold ranges, so that the image edges can be clearly determined".
Details the reasons for setting the low threshold to 0.03 and the high threshold
to 0.11.

Opinion 5: There is scarcely detailed information regarding the traditional Canny algorithm being used to analyze Lineament strength and density in the same area in Figure 16 and Figure 17.

Reply: In the discussion and research of extracting linear structure strength
and density based on Canny operator in Figure 16 and Figure 17, it is mainly used as the experimental control group data. In order to avoid readers '
misunderstanding of the main research content of this article, Canny algorithm
is not introduced in detail.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The reviewer was very interested in the content of this manuscript.

However, in order for this manuscript to be published in an academic journal "Applied Sciences", the following reviewers comments must be addressed sincerely by the authors.

 

(1) The authors should create a new section 2 and clearly explain the position of the previous research and this research.

 

(2) The authors must state their motivation for choosing Materials and Methods.

 

(3) The authors must explain to what extent the method or process reflects the phenomena in the field.

 

(4) The authors should also state the current issues of this research at the end of the paper.

Author Response

First of all, I am very grateful to the editor for the review of the article and
the review comments given by the reviewers. Then I modified the article
according to the review comments of the reviewers. The specific modifications
are as follows：

Opinion 1: The authors should create a new section 2 and clearly explain the position of the previous research and this research.

Reply: Has been created a new section 1.2” Research background, research position, research purpose and method“ and clearly explains the position of the previous research and this research in the article.

Opinion 2: The authors must state their motivation for choosing Materials and Methods.

Reply: Adding words” Most lineament research has focused on structural measurements, tectonic and geochemical evaluations, determination of the fault and ore body directions, and also of fracture structure characteristics that are linked to multiperiodic activity. However, few lineament length and density studies have been conducted. In this study, we will try to make up for this vacancy “. Explained state motivation for choosing Materials and Methods.

Opinion 3: The authors must explain to what extent the method or process reflects the phenomena in the field.

Reply: Adding words” The formation of the hydrothermal ore deposit, which is associated with magmatic-hydrothermal fluids, was the result of fluids generated in the Earth’s crust migrating from low-permeability to high-permeability zones via the fracture structure, which includes lineaments near the surface. Therefore, an appropriate method for lineament interpretation can help us to analyze the genesis of ore deposits and the establishment of an ore-forming model." Explained to what extent the method or process reflects the phenomena in the field.

Opinion 4: The authors should also state the current issues of this research at the end of the paper.

Reply:  Add text at the end of the article" However, there are still some
problems, such as: a single line element cannot be identified as a linear
structure, resulting in some fractures cannot be identified; some large faults
cause linear structure connection discontinuity due to excessive turning. To solve these problems, continuing to optimize the linear structure connection
program is the key to the next step". State the current issues of this research at the end of the paper.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear friends,

I have read with great interest the work entitled “Comparative Studies on the Extraction of Lineaments and its variability based on the improved line segment tracking method” by Jianwei Fan and Chunzhong Ni. The manuscript provides some insights, but also includes some “grey” areas.

The presented research is very interesting and concerns several scientific disciplines: geology, mining, GIS.

The main goal of the research was to develop an improved algorithm in data analysis (remote sensing images) to improve the extraction of lineaments. The form of presentation, in particular the clarity of the text and pictures, does not raise any objections. With one exception: the axes of graphs should contain units, which are sometimes missing.

However, to be honest between us, the described success ("the improved algorithm has higher precision than the traditional Canny algorithm") seems to be a bit of an exaggeration. Is a vaccine that improves the health of one patient always effective? Are we allowed to generalize research results and transfer their effectiveness to other areas? It must be modestly admitted that the obtained positive results concern this single case.

It must be admitted, however, that in the case of mining exploitation (as the authors rightly note!) the conducted research of lineaments can be of great importance (in various aspects).

But the presented study also can play important role in various engineering activities. Particular responsibility in engineering activities relates to geoengineering design and safety assessment of infrastructure facilities.

Because the research is interesting and important, I decided not to block the publication, because the above-mentioned research "defect" will be a positive impulse to start polemics with the authors of this work. This should contribute to the emergence of scientific "ferment" and numerous polemics, and thus the popularity of this publication as well as the journal "Applied Sciences". 

I present here some general remarks and there are some corrections in the text (hand made) – see the attachment with pdf file.

Please take my suggestions into consideration because the article is to be published in the prestigious journal, Applied Sciences, that’s why there are some corrections in the text. Nevertheless, the text is written in very good English, in good style, very understandable. So, for the sake of quality, it would be nice if the authors would accept the above-mentioned comments as well as the improvement in the quality of the language indicated in the text which I am submitting (hand made corrections). There are few corrections, and they are mainly to improve the quality of the manuscript….

 

your (friendly) reviewer

.-.- .-.-

 

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

首先，非常感谢小编对文章的评审和
审稿人给出的审稿意见。然后我根据审稿人的审稿意见修改了文章
。具体修改
如下：

非常感谢审稿人对提高语言质量的意见和建议。文章中的语言已根据审稿人给出的稿件进行了详细修改。

Author Response File: Author Response.docx