Mapping land cover and estimating forest structure using satellite imagery and coarse resolution lidar in the Virgin Islands

Todd A. Kennaway; Eileen H. Helmer; Michael A. Lefsky; Tom J. Brandeis; Kirk R. Sherrill

doi:10.1117/1.3063939

1 December 2008 Mapping land cover and estimating forest structure using satellite imagery and coarse resolution lidar in the Virgin Islands

Todd A. Kennaway, Eileen H. Helmer, Michael A. Lefsky, Tom J. Brandeis, Kirk R. Sherrill

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, Vol. 2, Issue 1, 023551 (December 2008). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3063939

Abstract

Current information on land cover, forest type and forest structure for the Virgin Islands is critical to land managers and researchers for accurate forest inventory and ecological monitoring. In this study, we use cloud free image mosaics of panchromatic sharpened Landsat ETM+ images and decision tree classification software to map land cover and forest type for the Virgin Islands, illustrating a low cost, repeatable mapping approach. Also, we test if coarse-resolution discrete lidar data that are often collected in conjunction with digital orthophotos are useful for mapping forest structural attributes. This approach addresses the factors that affect vegetation distribution and structure by testing if environmental variables can improve regression models of forest height and biomass derived from lidar data. The overall accuracy of the 29 forest and non-forest classes is 72%, while most the forest types are classified with greater than 70% accuracy. Due to the large point spacing of this lidar dataset, it is most appropriate for height measurements of dominant and co-dominant trees (R² = 72%) due to its inability to accurately represent forest understory. Above ground biomass per hectare is estimated by its direct relationship with plot canopy height (R² = 0.72%).

Citation Download Citation

Todd A. Kennaway, Eileen H. Helmer, Michael A. Lefsky, Tom J. Brandeis, and Kirk R. Sherrill "Mapping land cover and estimating forest structure using satellite imagery and coarse resolution lidar in the Virgin Islands," Journal of Applied Remote Sensing 2(1), 023551 (1 December 2008). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3063939

Published: 1 December 2008

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available