Estimation and comparison of leaf area index of agricultural crops using irs liss-III and EO-1 hyperion images

Motivated by the increasingly availability and importance of hyperspectral remote sensing data, this study aims to determine whether current generation narrowband hyperspectral remote sensing data could be used to estimate vegetation Leaf Area Index (LAI) accurately than the traditional broadband multispectral data. A comparative study has been carried out to evaluate the performance of the narrowband Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDV1) derived from Hyperion hyperspectral sensor with that of derived from IRS LISS-III for the estimation of LAI of some major agricultural crops (e.g. cotton, sugarcane and rice) in part of Guntur district, India. It has been found that the narrowband NDVI derived from Hyperion has shown better results over its counterpart derived from broadband LISS-III. Linear regression models have been used which with selected subsets of individual Hyperion bands performed better to predict LAI than those based on the broadband datasets, although the potential to overfit models using the large number of available Hyperion bands is a concern for further research.     

Comprehensive study of the biophysical parameters of agricultural crops based on assessing Landsat 8 OLI and Landsat 7 ETM+ vegetation indices

For three agricultural crop types, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and canola (Brassica napus L.), we estimated biophysical parameters including fresh and dry biomass, leaf area index (LAI), and vegetation water content, for which we found the equivalent water thickness (EWT), fuel moisture content per fresh weight (FMC_FW), and fuel moisture content per dry weight (FMC_DW). We performed these estimations using data from the newly launched Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensor, as well as its predecessor the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+). Progress in the design of the new sensor (i.e., Landsat 8), including narrower near-infrared (NIR) wavebands, higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and greater radiometric resolution highlights the necessity to investigate the biophysical parameters of agricultural crops, especially compared to data from its predecessor. This study aims to evaluate vegetation indices (VIs) derived from the Landsat 8 OLI and the Landsat 7 ETM+. Both the Landsat 8 OLI and Landsat 7 ETM+ VIs agreed well with in-situ data measurements. However, the Landsat 8 OLI-derived VIs were generally more consistent with in situ data than the Landsat 7 ETM+ VIs. We also note that the Landsat 8 OLI is better able to capture the small variability of the VIs because of its higher SNR and wider radiometric range; in addition, the saturation phenomenon occurred earlier for the Landsat 7 ETM+ than for the Landsat 8 OLI. This indicates that the new sensor is better able to estimate the biophysical parameters of crops.     

基于SPOT5遥感影像的城市森林叶面积指数反演

本文以上海城市森林为研究对象,采用地面实验与遥感技术相结合方法,开展SPOT5遥感影像在估测城市森林LAI中的应用研究。结果表明,地面实测LAI与三种植被指数均具有很好的线性回归关系,相关系数(r)均大于0.6,其中MSAVI的相关系数最高(r=0.66),其次为MCARI(r=0.64)和NDVI(r=0.62)。说明ND-VI仍受到背景等因素不同程度的影响,而植被指数MSAVI和MCARI,由于能进一步消除土壤背景和叶绿素的影响,对叶面积指数比较敏感,能更好地与叶面积指数建立关系,能更好地用于城市森林叶面积指数的遥感反演。本研究可为快速定量评估城市森林的结构和功能提供依据。     

Evaluation and use of Resourcesat-I data for agricultural applications

Resourcesat-1 satellite offers a unique opportunity of simultaneous observations at three different spatial scales through LISS-IV, LISS-III^* (improved LISS-III) and AWiFS sensors from a common platform. The sensors have enhanced capabilities in terms of spectral, spatial and radiometric resolution as compared to earlier Indian Remote sensing Satellite sensors. This paper summarizes the results of various studies such as evaluation of sensor characteristics, inter-sensor comparison studies, derivation and validation of surface reflectance measurements, quantification of improvements due to Resourcesat-1 sensors, and their use for various agricultural applications. The studies presented in this paper demonstrate that suit of sensors onboard Resourcesat-1 satellite provides better prospects for several agricultural applications like crop identification, discrimination and crop inventory for some major Indian crops, than its predecessors on IRS satellites.     

Mapping forest leaf area index using reflectance and textural information derived from WorldView-2 imagery in a mixed natural forest area in Florida,US

The leaf area index (LAI) of plant canopies is an important structural parameter that controls energy, water, and gas exchanges of plant ecosystems. Remote sensing techniques may offer an alternative for measuring and mapping forest LAI at a landscape scale. Given the characteristics of high spatial/spectral resolution of the WorldView-2 (WV2) sensor, it is of significance that the textural information extracted from WV2 multispectral (MS) bands will be first time used in estimating and mapping forest LAI. In this study, LAI mapping accuracies would be compared from (a) spatial resolutions between 2-m WV2 MS data and 30-m Landsat TM imagery, (b) the nature of variables between spectrum-based features and texture-based features, and (c) sensors between TM and WV2. Therefore spectral/textural features (SFs) were first selected and tested; then a canonical correlation analysis was performed with different data sets of SFs and LAI measurement; and finally linear regression models were used to predict and map forest LAI with canonical variables calculated from image data. The experimental results demonstrate that for estimating and mapping forest LAI, (i) using high resolution data (WV2) is better than using relatively low resolution data (TM); (ii) extracted from the same WV2 data, texture-based features have higher capability than that of spectrum-based features; (iii) a combination of spectrum-based features with texture-based features could lead to even higher accuracy of mapping forest LAI than their either one separately; and (iv) WV2 sensor outperforms TM sensor significantly. However, we need to address the possible overfitting phenomenon that might be brought in by using more input variables to develop models. In addition, the experimental results also indicate that the red-edge band in WV2 was the worst on estimating LAI among WV2 MS bands and the WV2 MS bands in the visible range had a much higher correlation with ground measured LAI than that red-edge and NIR bands did.     

A novel method for enhancement of radiometric resolution using image fusion

The Resourcesat-I satellite is equipped with different types of sensors with varied characteristics. For the effective utilization of the available multi-sensor, multi-temporal, multi-spectral and multi-radiometric data from these sensors, fusion of digital image data has become a valuable technique. Image fusion enhances the information content and helps in better discrimination of various land cover types. The Resourcesat-1 has equipped with three sensors, AWiFS, LISS-III and LISS-IV, which are having identical spectral resolutions, with different spatial, radiometric and temporal resolutions. The spatial resolutions ratio of the data set for merging are required to be maximum of 1:6, where as the data sets (AWiFS and LISS-III) that are used in the current study are having the ratio of 1:2.5 approximately. A novel merging technique is designed, which retains the multi-spectral response of the input data in the output data. The merged data set provides the higher spatial and radiometric resolutions. In order to evaluate the fusion merits quantitatively, all the data sets are digitally classified and studied the output classes for homogeneity and clear discrimination. A comprehensive comparative study is carried out between the fused image and the LISS-III image based on the contingency matrix and the scatter plots, which demonstrates the strength of fused image for discriminating the object classes at 23.5 m spatial and 10-bit radiometric resolutions. The merged data set gives the improved classification accuracy.     

A Method to Upscale the Leaf Area Index (LAI) Using GF-1 Data with the Assistance of MODIS Products in the Poyang Lake Watershed

A leaf area index is a key parameter reflecting the growth changes of vegetation and one of the most important canopy structural parameters for performing quantitative analyses of many ecological and climate models. Although using high-resolution satellite data and the radiative transfer model (RTM) can be used to generate high resolution LAI products, the RTM method has some problems because its temporal resolution is low, the input parameters are more appropriate for a physics model, and some parameters are difficult to obtain. Problems that urgently need to be solved include improving the temporal-spatial resolution for LAI products and localizing LAI products. To explore an applicable method for the high-resolution LAI products in a small basin and to improve the inversion accuracy, we propose an approach for GF-1 WFV LAI retrieval using MOD15A2 data and the measured LAI of the Poyang Lake watershed. Empirical models were used to retrieve high resolution LAI values, and the results show that these models are well designed for analyzing time-series satellite data. Good correlations were obtained between the NDVI of the GF-1 WFV data, the retrieved LAI values and the MODIS LAI data from samples acquired in both summer and winter. The exponential NDVI model obtained the best LAI value estimation results from the GF-1 WFV data (R2 = 0.697, RMSE = 1.100); the best synthetic validation of the RMSE is 0.883, close to the optimum model. Therefore, the retrieval results more fully reflect the growth process of the different features. This study proposed an upscale method for developing a high spatial resolution GF-1 satellite standard LAI products retrieval model using MODIS data. The proposed method will be helpful for efficiently improving the temporal-spatial resolution of LAI products to benefit the extraction of vegetation parameter information and dynamic land use monitoring.     

Retrieval of remotely sensed LAI using Landsat ETM+ data and ground measurements of solar radiation and vegetation structure: Implication of leaf inclination angle

A time series of leaf area index (LAI) of a managed birch forest in Germany (near Dresden) has been developed based on 16-day normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from the Landsat ETM+ sensor at 30 m resolution. The Landsat ETM+ LAI was retrieved using a modified physical radiative transfer (RTM) model which establishes a relationship between LAI, fractional vegetation cover (fC), and given patterns of surface reflectance, view-illumination conditions and optical properties of vegetation. In situ measurements of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and vegetation structure parameters using hemispherical photography (HSP) served for calibration of model parameters, while data from litter collection at the study site provided the ground-based estimates of LAI for validation of modelling results. Influence of view-illumination conditions on optical properties of canopy was simulated by a view angle geometry model incorporating the solar zenith angle and the sensor viewing angle. Effects of intra-annual and inter-annual variability of structural properties of the canopy on the light extinction coefficient were simulated by implementing variability of the leaf inclination angle (LIA), which was confirmed in the study site. The results revealed good compatibility of the produced Landsat ETM+ LAI data set with the litter-estimated LAI. The results also showed high sensitivity of the LAI retrieval algorithm to variability of structural properties of the canopy: the implementation of LIA dynamics into the LAI retrieval algorithm significantly improved the model accuracy.     

黑河流域遥感物候产品验证与分析

植被物候遥感产品对全球变化响应、农业生产管理、生态学的应用等多领域研究具有重要意义。但现有植被物候遥感产品还有较多问题,主要包括一方面使用不同参数的时间序列数据以及不同提取算法导致的产品结果差异较大,另一方面在地面验证中地面观测数据与遥感反演数据的物理含义不一致导致的验证方法的系统性误差。本文以黑河流域为研究区,对比验证基于EVI(Enhanced Vegetation Index)时间序列数据提取的MLCD(MODIS global land cover dynamics product)植被遥感物候产品和基于LAI(Leaf Area Index)时间序列数据提取的UMPM(product by universal multi-life-cycle phenology monitoring method)植被遥感物候产品的有效性及精度等。同时,通过验证分析进一步评估基于EVI和LAI时间序列提取的物候特征的差异及特点,探讨由于地面观测植被物候与遥感提取植被物候的物理意义的不一致问题导致的直接验证结果偏差。结果表明:UMPM产品有效性整体高于MLCD产品,但在以草地和灌木为主的稀疏植被区,由于LAI取值精度的原因,UMPM产品存在较多缺失数据,且时空稳定性较低;基于玉米地面观测数据表明,EVI对植被开始生长的信号比LAI更加敏感,更适合提取生长起点,但植被指数易饱和,峰值起点普遍提前,基于LAI提取的峰值起点更加合理。由于地面观测的物候期在后期更加关注果实生长,遥感观测仅关注叶片的生长,遥感定义的峰值终点和生长终点与玉米的乳熟期和成熟期差异较大。     

山地叶面积指数反演理论、方法与研究进展

叶面积指数LAI（Leaf Area Index）是表征叶片疏密程度和冠层结构特征的重要植被参数，在气候变化、作物生长模型以及碳、水循环研究中发挥着重要作用。遥感是获取区域及全球尺度LAI的一个重要手段，当前LAI产品主要基于遥感数据反演得到，但是多数LAI产品算法并未考虑地形特征的影响，导致山地LAI遥感反演精度不确定性大。提高山地LAI遥感反演精度亟需考虑地形因子对冠层反射率的影响，其中山地冠层反射率模型和遥感数据地形校正是提升山地LAI遥感反演精度的关键。本文围绕山地LAI遥感反演理论与方法，综合分析了国内外山地冠层反射率模型和地形校正模型的研究进展，总结了目前山地LAI遥感反演存在的问题，并讨论了未来研究的发展趋势。     

农业遥感研究应用进展与展望

得益于中国自主遥感卫星、无人机遥感和物联网等技术的发展,中国农业遥感研究与应用在过去20年取得了显著进步,中国农业遥感信息获取呈现出天地网一体化的趋势;农业定量遥感在关键参数遥感反演技术方法与应用方面取得进展;作物面积、长势、产量、灾害遥感监测的理论与技术方法取得突破,农业遥感技术应用领域不断拓展。本文从农业遥感信息获取、农业定量遥感、农业灾害遥感、作物遥感识别与制图、作物长势遥感监测与产量预测、农业土地资源遥感等方面对中国农业遥感科研与应用进行了总结综述。     

中国区域MuSyQ叶面积指数产品验证与分析

对多源遥感数据协同生产的2010年—2015年中国区域1 km空间分辨率5天合成的MuSyQ（Multi-source data Synergized Quantitative remote sensing production system）叶面积指数LAI产品进行验证。参考现有的LAI产品（MODIS c5，GLASS LAI）和中国生态系统研究网络部分农田和森林站点可用的LAI地面测量数据，从时空连续性、时空一致性、精度和准确性等方面对中国区域的MuSyQ LAI产品进行定性和定量分析与评价。结果表明：（1） MuSyQ LAI产品在保证精度优于MODIS产品的情况下，时间分辨率和时空连续性均有提高。MuSyQ LAI与其他LAI产品（MODIS c5，GLASS LAI）在整体上有很好的一致性（RMSE=1.0，RMSE=0.81），但对常绿阔叶林高值处的描述不稳定；（2） 与LAI地面测量数据相比，MuSyQ LAI产品与地面参考图对比结果较好（最高相关性（R²=0.54）和较低总体误差（RMSE=0.96）），其在阔叶作物生长季高值处有些许低估且在某些阔叶林站点有些高估。整体上，MuSyQ LAI产品呈现出较高的精度，可靠的空间分布和连续稳定的时间分布，且对森林LAI的描述具有更可靠的动态范围。     

U-Net模型对不同空间分辨率防护林提取精度的影响

针对当前无人机影像获取精度高但数据规模小的问题,本文提出通过U-Net模型探讨不同空间分辨率对防护林提取精度的影响。以CW-20复合翼无人机搭载Micro MAC12 Snap多光谱传感器获取的300 m（空间分辨率0.15 m）、400 m（空间分辨率0.20 m）、500 m（空间分辨率0.25 m）3种不同高度的遥感影像为例,试验结果证明,3种不同高度的影像提取精度误差在1.3%以内;MIoU误差在3.7%以内。空间分辨率对防护林提取精度的影响较小,高空间分辨率的影像数据并不能显著提升防护林的提取精度。本文为大规模农林业遥感监测的数据源获取提供了理论依据。     

基于时间序列叶面积指数稀疏表示的作物种植区域提取

以华北平原黄河以北地区为研究区域,以时间序列叶面积指数LAI(Leaf Area Index)傅里叶变换的谐波特征作为不同作物识别的数据源,利用稀疏表示的分类方法识别2007年—2016年冬小麦、春玉米、夏玉米等主要农作物种植区域。首先利用上包络线Savitzky-Golay滤波分别对2007年—2016年的时间序列MODIS LAI曲线进行重构,进而对重构的年时间序列LAI进行傅里叶变换,以0—5级谐波振幅、1—5级谐波相位作为作物识别的依据,基于各类地物的训练样本,通过在线字典学习算法构建稀疏表示方法的判别字典,对每个待测样本利用正交匹配追踪算法求解稀疏系数,从而计算对应于各类地物的重构误差,根据最小重构误差判定待测样本的作物类型,并对作物识别结果的位置精度进行验证。结果表明,2007年—2016年作物识别的总体精度为77.97%,Kappa系数为0.74,表明本文提出的方法可以用于研究区域主要作物种植区域的提取。     

An approach to the radiometric aerotriangulation of photogrammetric images

Harnessing the radiometric information provided by photogrammetric flights could be useful in increasing the thematic applications of aerial images. The aim of this paper is to improve relative and absolute homogenization in aerial images by applying atmospheric correction and treatment of bidirectional effects. We propose combining remote sensing methodologies based on radiative transfer models and photogrammetry models, taking into account the three-dimensional geometry of the images (external orientation and Digital Elevation Model). The photogrammetric flight was done with a Z/I Digital Mapping Camera (DMC) with a Ground Sample Distance (GSD) of 45 cm. Spectral field data were acquired by defining radiometric control points in order to apply atmospheric correction models, obtaining calibration parameters from the camera and surface reflectance images. Kernel-driven models were applied to correct the anisotropy caused by the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of surfaces viewed under large observation angles with constant illumination, using the overlapping area between images and the establishment of radiometric tie points. Two case studies were used: 8-bit images with applied Lookup Tables (LUTs) resulting from the conventional photogrammetric workflow for BRDF studies and original 12-bit images (Low Resolution Color, LRC) for the correction of atmospheric and bidirectional effects. The proposed methodology shows promising results in the different phases of the process. The geometric kernel that shows the best performance is the Lidense kernel. The homogenization factor in 8-bit images ranged from 6% to 25% relative to the range of digital numbers (0–255), and from 18% to 35% relative to levels of reflectance (0–100) in the 12-bit images, representing a relative improvement of approximately 1–30%, depending on the band analyzed.     

A Spatio-Temporal Enhancement Method for medium resolution LAI (STEM-LAI)

Satellite remote sensing has been used successfully to map leaf area index (LAI) across landscapes, but advances are still needed to exploit multi-scale data streams for producing LAI at both high spatial and temporal resolution. A multi-scale Spatio-Temporal Enhancement Method for medium resolution LAI (STEM-LAI) has been developed to generate 4-day time-series of Landsat-scale LAI from existing medium resolution LAI products. STEM-LAI has been designed to meet the demands of applications requiring frequent and spatially explicit information, such as effectively resolving rapidly evolving vegetation dynamics at sub-field (30 m) scales. In this study, STEM-LAI is applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) based LAI data and utilizes a reference-based regression tree approach for producing MODIS-consistent, but Landsat-based, LAI. The Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (STARFM) is used to interpolate the downscaled LAI between Landsat acquisition dates, providing a high spatial and temporal resolution improvement over existing LAI products. STARFM predicts high resolution LAI by blending MODIS and Landsat based information from a common acquisition date, with MODIS data from a prediction date. To demonstrate its capacity to reproduce fine-scale spatial features observed in actual Landsat LAI, the STEM-LAI approach is tested over an agricultural region in Nebraska. The implementation of a 250 m resolution LAI product, derived from MODIS 1 km data and using a scale consistent approach based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), is found to significantly improve accuracies of spatial pattern prediction, with the coefficient of efficiency (E) ranging from 0.77–0.94 compared to 0.01–0.85 when using 1 km LAI inputs alone. Comparisons against an 11-year record of in-situ measured LAI over maize and soybean highlight the utility of STEM-LAI in reproducing observed LAI dynamics (both characterized by r² = 0.86) over a range of plant development stages. Overall, STEM-LAI represents an effective downscaling and temporal enhancement mechanism that predicts in-situ measured LAI better than estimates derived through linear interpolation between Landsat acquisitions. This is particularly true when the in-situ measurement date is greater than 10 days from the nearest Landsat acquisition, with prediction errors reduced by up to 50%. With a streamlined and completely automated processing interface, STEM-LAI represents a flexible tool for LAI disaggregation in space and time that is adaptable to different land cover types, landscape heterogeneities, and cloud cover conditions.     

Landsat8和MODIS融合构建高时空分辨率数据识别秋粮作物

本文利用Wu等人提出的遥感数据时空融合方法 STDFA(Spatial Temporal Data Fusion Approach)以Landsat 8和MODIS为数据源构建高时间、空间分辨率的遥感影像数据。以此为基础,构建15种30 m分辨率分类数据集,然后利用支持向量机SVM(Support Vector Machine)进行秋粮作物识别,验证不同维度分类数据集进行秋粮作物识别的适用性。实验结果显示,不同分类数据集的秋粮作物分类结果均达到了较高的识别精度。综合各项精度指标分析,Red+Phenology数据组合对秋粮识别效果最好,水稻识别的制图精度和用户精度分别达到91.76%和82.49%,玉米识别的制图精度和用户精度分别达到85.80%和74.97%,水稻和玉米识别的总体精度达到86.90%。     

作物LAI的遥感尺度效应与误差分析

以黑河中游盈科绿洲为研究区, 利用Hyperion高光谱数据, 采用双层冠层反射率模型(ACRM)迭代运算反演LAI; 通过LAI的均值化(LAImean)以及Hyperion数据反射率线性累加反演LAI(LAIp), 定量分析LAI反演的尺度效应; 从模型的非线性和地表景观结构的空间异质性2个方面分析引起反演误差的原因, 并在LAI-NDVI回归方程的基础上利用泰勒展开的方法对低分辨率数据反演结果进行了误差纠正。结果表明, 地表景观结构的空间异质性是造成多尺度LAI反演误差的关键因素, 通过泰勒展开式能很好地实现大尺度数据LAI反演结果的误差纠正。     

Evaluating the capabilities of Sentinel-2 for quantitative estimation of biophysical variables in vegetation

The red edge position (REP) in the vegetation spectral reflectance is a surrogate measure of vegetation chlorophyll content, and hence can be used to monitor the health and function of vegetation. The Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) aboard the future ESA Sentinel-2 (S-2) satellite will provide the opportunity for estimation of the REP at much higher spatial resolution (20 m) than has been previously possible with spaceborne sensors such as Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) aboard ENVISAT. This study aims to evaluate the potential of S-2 MSI sensor for estimation of canopy chlorophyll content, leaf area index (LAI) and leaf chlorophyll concentration (LCC) using data from multiple field campaigns. Included in the assessed field campaigns are results from SEN3Exp in Barrax, Spain composed of 35 elementary sampling units (ESUs) of LCC and LAI which have been assessed for correlation with simulated MSI data using a CASI airborne imaging spectrometer. Analysis also presents results from SicilyS2EVAL, a campaign consisting of 25 ESUs in Sicily, Italy supported by a simultaneous Specim Aisa-Eagle data acquisition. In addition, these results were compared to outputs from the PROSAIL model for similar values of biophysical variables in the ESUs. The paper in turn assessed the scope of S-2 for retrieval of biophysical variables using these combined datasets through investigating the performance of the relevant Vegetation Indices (VIs) as well as presenting the novel Inverted Red-Edge Chlorophyll Index (IRECI) and Sentinel-2 Red-Edge Position (S2REP). Results indicated significant relationships between both canopy chlorophyll content and LAI for simulated MSI data using IRECI or the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) while S2REP and the MERIS Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI) were found to have the strongest correlation for retrieval of LCC.     

Farm-Level Yield mapping for precision crop management by linking remote sensing inputs and a crop simulation model

A study aimed at generating wheat yield maps of farmer’s fields by using remote sensing (RS) inputs was undertaken during the rabi season of 1998-99 in six villages of Alipur Block of Delhi State. RS derived leaf area index (LAI) were linked to wheat simulation model WTGROWS by adopting a strategy christened “Modified Corrective Approach”. This essentially uses an empirical relation of grain yield and LAI, which was derived from WTGROWS simulation model by running model for a combination of input resources, management practices and soil types occurring in the area. This biometric relationship was applied to all the wheat fields of the study area for which the LAI was derived from single acquisition of IRS LISS-III data (Jan 27, 99). The LAI-NDVI relation adopted was logarithmic in nature (R²=0.83) and was based on ground measurements of LAI in farmer’s fields in the same area. A comparison of predicted grain yield by the modified corrective approach and actual observed yield for the 22 farmer’s fields showed high correlation coefficient of 0.8 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 597 kg ha^-1 which was 17% of the observed mean yield. Thus linking of RS information and crop simulation model provides an alternative for mapping and forecasting crop yield under highly variable cropping environment of Indian farms, which is a pre-requisite for implementing Precision Crop Management (PCM).