The procedure of seeking effective spectral indices for automated interpretation of water bodies (a case study of Belgorod oblast)

A case study has been made of the water bodies in Belgorod oblast in investigating the efficiency of improving spectral conversions of space images for purposes of automated interpretation of water bodies. A comparison is made of the initial image-based mapping accuracy of water bodies with values of 14 spectral indices. It is found that the Tasseled Cap Transformation can be employed in order to investigate in the greatest detail the spectral properties of water surfaces. Changes in the areas of water bodies of Belgorod oblast have been analyzed for the time interval from 1986 to 2011 on the basis of results of automated interpretation of space images.