The improvement of an object-oriented classification using multi-temporal MODIS EVI satellite data

Abstract

This paper investigates the contribution of multi-temporal enhanced vegetation index (EVI) data to the improvement of object-based classification accuracy using multi-spectral moderate resolution imaging spectral-radiometer (MODIS) imagery. In object-oriented classification, similar pixels are firstly grouped together and then classified; the produced result does not suffer the speckled appearance and closer to human vision. EVI data are from the MODIS sensor aboard Terra spacecraft. 69 EVI data (scenes) were collected during the period of three years (2001–2003) in a mountainous vegetated area. These data sets were used to study the phenology of the land cover types. Different land cover types show distinct fluctuations over time in EVI values and this information might be used to improve object-oriented land cover classification. Two experiments were carried out: one was only with single date MODIS multispectral data, and the other one including also the 69 EVI images. Eight classes were distinguished: temperate forest, tropical dry forest, grassland, irrigated agriculture, rain-fed agriculture, orchards, lava flows and human settlement. The two classifications were evaluated with independent verification data, and the results showed that with multi-temporal EVI data, the classification accuracy was improved 5.2%. Evaluated by McNemar's test, this improved was significant, with significance level p=0.01.     

基于MODIS数据的环北京地区土地资源监测研究

本文基于MODIS 16天合成的NDVI时间序列数据及其他辅助数据,首先用PCA方法对NDVI时间序列数据进行信息增强与压缩处理,结合LST数据、DEM数据及降雨温度数据,利用模糊K-均值非监督分类法,进行环北京地区的土地覆盖分类,得到土地资源现状情况。然后利用变化矢量(CVA)分析方法对环北京地区的土地利用及植被覆盖的多年变化状况进行了分析。结果表明,MODIS数据能很好的应用于大范围的土地资源监测中,并能得到较好的结果。     

Improved maize cultivated area estimation over a large scale combining MODIS–EVI time series data and crop phenological information

The accurate and timely information of crop area is vital for crop production and food security. In this study, the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data from MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) integrated crop phenological information was used to estimate the maize cultivated area over a large scale in Northeast China. The fine spatial resolution China’s Environment Satellite (HJ-1 satellite) images and the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm were employed to discriminate distribution of maize in the reference area. The mean MODIS–EVI time series curve of maize was extracted in the reference area by using multiple periods MODIS–EVI data. By analysing the temporal shift of crop calendars from northern to southern parts in Northeast China, the lag value was derived from phenological data of twenty-one agro-meteorological stations; here integrating with the mean MODIS–EVI time series image of maize, a standard MODIS–EVI time series image of maize was obtained in the whole study area. By calculating mean absolute distances (MAD) map between standard MODIS–EVI image and mean MODIS–EVI time series images, and setting appropriate thresholds in three provinces, the maize cultivated area was extracted in Northeast China. The results showed that the overall classification accuracy of maize cultivated area was approximately 79%. At the county level, the MODIS-derived maize cultivated area and statistical data were well correlated (R² = 0.82, RMSE = 283.98) over whole Northeast China. It demonstrated that MODIS–EVI time series data integrated with crop phenological information can be used to improve the extraction accuracy of crop cultivated area over a large scale.     

基于MODIS影像多特征的CART决策树分类

以山东省为研究区域,利用2009年9月MODIS的8 d合成波段反射率产品MOD09,选择特征变量植被指数(NDVI、EVI)、NDWI、NDMI、NDSI及辅助信息DEM,通过选取其中的影像特征组合来确定分类方案,构建各波段组合的CART决策树,对MODIS影像进行分类,得到CART决策树的最优波段组合。结果表明,特征变量DEM、NDVI、EVI对分类结果贡献较大;将CART决策树的分类结果与其相对应的最大似然分类结果进行比较可知,基于影像多特征的CART决策树分类方法能明显提高分类精度。     

面向对象方法的时间序列MODIS数据湿地信息提取——以洞庭湖流域为例

以洞庭湖流域为研究区,对大范围湿地信息遥感提取方法进行了研究。先基于时间序列MODIS EVI及物候特征参数,通过J-M(Jeffries-Matusita distance)距离分析,构建了MODIS(250 m)最佳时序组合分类数据;其次,通过Johnson指数确定了最佳分割尺度,采用面向对象的遥感分类方法(Random tree分类器)提取了洞庭湖流域的湿地信息,并验证该方法的适用性。研究结果表明,基于时序数据与面向对象的Random tree分类的总体精度和Kappa系数分别为78.84%和0.71,较之基于像元的相同算法的总体分类精度和Kappa系数分别提高了5.79%和0.04。同时,基于面向对象方法的湿地整体的用户精度与生产者精度较基于像元方法分别提高了4.56%和6.21%,可有效提高大区域湿地信息提取的精度。     

Temporal optimisation of image acquisition for land cover classification with Random Forest and MODIS time-series

The analysis and classification of land cover is one of the principal applications in terrestrial remote sensing. Due to the seasonal variability of different vegetation types and land surface characteristics, the ability to discriminate land cover types changes over time. Multi-temporal classification can help to improve the classification accuracies, but different constraints, such as financial restrictions or atmospheric conditions, may impede their application. The optimisation of image acquisition timing and frequencies can help to increase the effectiveness of the classification process. For this purpose, the Feature Importance (FI) measure of the state-of-the art machine learning method Random Forest was used to determine the optimal image acquisition periods for a general (Grassland, Forest, Water, Settlement, Peatland) and Grassland specific (Improved Grassland, Semi-Improved Grassland) land cover classification in central Ireland based on a 9-year time-series of MODIS Terra 16 day composite data (MOD13Q1). Feature Importances for each acquisition period of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were calculated for both classification scenarios. In the general land cover classification, the months December and January showed the highest, and July and August the lowest separability for both VIs over the entire nine-year period. This temporal separability was reflected in the classification accuracies, where the optimal choice of image dates outperformed the worst image date by 13% using NDVI and 5% using EVI on a mono-temporal analysis. With the addition of the next best image periods to the data input the classification accuracies converged quickly to their limit at around 8–10 images. The binary classification schemes, using two classes only, showed a stronger seasonal dependency with a higher intra-annual, but lower inter-annual variation. Nonetheless anomalous weather conditions, such as the cold winter of 2009/2010 can alter the temporal separability pattern significantly. Due to the extensive use of the NDVI for land cover discrimination, the findings of this study should be transferrable to data from other optical sensors with a higher spatial resolution. However, the high impact of outliers from the general climatic pattern highlights the limitation of spatial transferability to locations with different climatic and land cover conditions. The use of high-temporal, moderate resolution data such as MODIS in conjunction with machine-learning techniques proved to be a good base for the prediction of image acquisition timing for optimal land cover classification results.     

Forest cover classification using Landsat ETM+ data and time series MODIS NDVI data

Forest cover plays a key role in climate change by influencing the carbon stocks, the hydrological cycle and the energy balance. Forest cover information can be determined from fine-resolution data, such as Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+). However, forest cover classification with fine-resolution data usually uses only one temporal data because successive data acquirement is difficult. It may achieve mis-classification result without involving vegetation growth information, because different vegetation types may have the similar spectral features in the fine-resolution data. To overcome these issues, a forest cover classification method using Landsat ETM+ data appending with time series Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data was proposed. The objective was to investigate the potential of temporal features extracted from coarse-resolution time series vegetation index data on improving the forest cover classification accuracy using fine-resolution remote sensing data. This method firstly fused Landsat ETM+ NDVI and MODIS NDVI data to obtain time series fine-resolution NDVI data, and then the temporal features were extracted from the fused NDVI data. Finally, temporal features combined with Landsat ETM+ spectral data was used to improve forest cover classification accuracy using supervised classifier. The study in North China region confirmed that time series NDVI features had significant effects on improving forest cover classification accuracy of fine resolution remote sensing data. The NDVI features extracted from time series fused NDVI data could improve the overall classification accuracy approximately 5% from 88.99% to 93.88% compared to only using single Landsat ETM+ data.     

Land cover classification of finer resolution remote sensing data integrating temporal features from time series coarser resolution data

Land cover classification of finer resolution remote sensing data is always difficult to acquire high-frequency time series data which contains temporal features for improving classification accuracy. This paper proposed a method of land cover classification with finer resolution remote sensing data integrating temporal features extracted from time series coarser resolution data. The coarser resolution vegetation index data is first fused with finer resolution data to obtain time series finer resolution data. Temporal features are extracted from the fused data and added to improve classification accuracy. The result indicates that temporal features extracted from coarser resolution data have significant effect on improving classification accuracy of finer resolution data, especially for vegetation types. The overall classification accuracy is significantly improved approximately 4% from 90.4% to 94.6% and 89.0% to 93.7% for using Landsat 8 and Landsat 5 data, respectively. The user and producer accuracies for all land cover types have been improved.     

Primitives as building blocks for constructing land cover maps

Land cover maps play an integral role in environmental management. However, countries and institutes encounter many challenges with producing timely, efficient, and temporally harmonized updates to their land cover maps. To address these issues we present a modular Regional Land Cover Monitoring System (RLCMS) architecture that is easily customized to create land cover products using primitive map layers. Primitive map layers are a suite of biophysical and end member maps, with land cover primitives representing the raw information needed to make decisions in a dichotomous key for land cover classification. We present best practices to create and assemble primitives from optical satellite using computing technologies, decision tree logic and Monte Carlo simulations to integrate their uncertainties. The concept is presented in the context of a regional land cover map based on a shared regional typology with 18 land cover classes agreed on by stakeholders from Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. We created annual map and uncertainty layers for the period 2000–2017. We found an overall accuracy of 94% when taking uncertainties into account. RLCMS produces consistent time series products using free long term historical Landsat and MODIS data. The customizable architecture can include a variety of sensors and machine learning algorithms to create primitives and the best suited smoothing can be applied on a primitive level. The system is transferable to all regions around the globe because of its use of publicly available global data (Landsat and MODIS) and easily adaptable architecture that allows for the incorporation of a customizable assembly logic to map different land cover typologies based on the user's landscape monitoring objectives     

谐波改进的植被指数时间序列重建算法

提出一种基于傅里叶谐波分析的改进算法,引入异常值检测算法,检测拟合过程中的异常值,增加数据拟合的真实性;迭代前动态估算出待处理序列点的峰值个数(即频数),解决整个区域预设单一频数的不合理性;引入拟合影响因子,自动控制迭代终止条件,避免传统方法中人为设置阈值导致的不确定性。利用2003年华北平原MODIS_EVI时间序列图像验证表明,较之HANTS算法,改进算法能够有效修正噪声污染像元值,修正后的EVI时序曲线更能反映地物内在的物候变化规律,并能够更好地保真原始曲线上的特征(点),如作物EVI最大值、最小值出现的时间和大小关系。     

基于 C4.5决策树的多特征遥感分类方法

以钱塘江流域为研究区域,利用2010年ETM,MODIS和DEM多源数据,进行土地利用分类研究。在分析土地类型的光谱特性和植被指数年度变化基础上,运用光谱指数法和代数法从数据中提取各种土地覆被类型特征。利用WEKA软件平台下的C4.5决策树算法构建决策树分类模型,对钱塘江流域土地覆被类型进行分类研究,取得较高的分类精度。     

Comparison and assessment of NDVI time series for seasonal wetland classification

Satellite-based wetland mapping faces challenges due to the high spatial heterogeneity and dynamic characteristics of seasonal wetlands. Although normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series (NTS) shows great potential in land cover mapping and crop classification, the effectiveness of various NTS with different spatial and temporal resolution has not been evaluated for seasonal wetland classification. To address this issue, we conducted comparisons of those NTS, including the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) NTS with 500?m resolution, NTS fused with MODIS and Landsat data (MOD_LC8-NTS), and HJ-1 NDVI compositions (HJ-1-NTS) with finer resolution, for wetland classification of Poyang Lake. Results showed the following: (1) the NTS with finer resolution was more effective in the classification of seasonal wetlands than that of the MODIS-NTS with 500-m resolution and (2) generally, the HJ-1-NTS performed better than that of the fused NTS, with an overall accuracy of 88.12% for HJ-1-NTS and 83.09% for the MOD_LC8-NTS. Future work should focus on the construction of satellite image time series oriented to highly dynamic characteristics of seasonal wetlands. This study will provide useful guidance for seasonal wetland classification, and benefit the improvements of spatiotemporal fusion models.     

基于EOS/MODIS若尔盖高原地区湿地信息提取及变化监测

以若尔盖高原地区为研究区,利用多时相中分辨率成像光谱仪MODIS(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)遥感影像数据,采用基于归一化植被指数(NDVI)的时间序列谐波分析方法,对2001~2013年夏季的MODIS/NDVI和MODIS/EVI进行重构,去除云干扰,采用决策树分类方法获取若尔盖高原地区2001~2013年夏季湿地信息的分布数据并作统计。结果表明:基于EOS/MODIS遥感数据,采用决策树分类方法获取若尔盖高原地区的湿地信息数据是可行的;若尔盖高原地区的湿地面积是随年际的变化呈锐减趋势,若尔盖高原地区湿地的退化主要是受到近年来气候暖干化的影响,人类活动则加剧了湿地萎缩及退化的趋势。     

MODIS土地覆盖分类的尺度不确定性研究

以空间异质性较强的枯水期鄱阳湖为研究区,以搭载于同一卫星平台、具有同一观测时间和较高空间分辨率的ASTER数据为参照,分析研究了MODIS数据在土地覆盖分类中由空间尺度带来的不确定性。首先基于MODIS三角权重函数,建立了从ASTER到MODIS的尺度转换方法;然后对不同空间分辨率的数据进行土地覆盖分类,并基于误差矩阵和线性模型分析了MODIS土地覆盖分类结果的误差来源。结果表明,空间分辨率和光谱分辨率与成像方式这两类因素对MODIS与ASTER分类结果差异的贡献比例约为(6.6—11.2):2;MODIS像元尺度对研究区水体的分类不确定性影响较低,而对森林的不确定性影响可达63%。由此可见,在基于MODIS数据的土地覆盖分类研究中,空间尺度所产生的不确定性是比较显著的。这些研究结果对于土地覆盖分类及变化检测、尺度效应和景观生态学不确定性研究,有积极的参考意义。     

Updating Landsat-based forest cover maps with MODIS images using multiscale spectral-spatial-temporal superresolution mapping

With the high deforestation rates of global forest covers during the past decades, there is an ever-increasing need to monitor forest covers at both fine spatial and temporal resolutions. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat series images have been used commonly for satellite-derived forest cover mapping. However, the spatial resolution of MODIS images and the temporal resolution of Landsat images are too coarse to observe forest cover at both fine spatial and temporal resolutions. In this paper, a novel multiscale spectral-spatial-temporal superresolution mapping (MSSTSRM) approach is proposed to update Landsat-based forest maps by integrating current MODIS images with the previous forest maps generated from Landsat image. Both the 240 m MODIS bands and 480 m MODIS bands were used as inputs of the spectral energy function of the MSSTSRM model. The principle of maximal spatial dependence was used as the spatial energy function to make the updated forest map spatially smooth. The temporal energy function was based on a multiscale spatial-temporal dependence model, and considers the land cover changes between the previous and current time. The novel MSSTSRM model was able to update Landsat-based forest maps more accurately, in terms of both visual and quantitative evaluation, than traditional pixel-based classification and the latest sub-pixel based super-resolution mapping methods The results demonstrate the great efficiency and potential of MSSTSRM for updating fine temporal resolution Landsat-based forest maps using MODIS images.     

Land cover mapping applications with MODIS: a literature review

Abstract

Land use/land cover monitoring and mapping is crucial to efficient management of the land and its resources. Since the late 1980s increased attention has been paid to the use of coarse resolution optical data. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has features, which make it particularly suitable to earth characterization purposes. MODIS has 10 products dedicated mainly to land cover characterization and provides three kinds of data: angular, spectral and temporal. MODIS data also includes information about the data quality through the ‘Quality Assessment’ product. In this paper, we review how MODIS data are used to map land cover including the preferred MODIS products, the preprocessing and classification approaches, the accuracy assessment, and the results obtained.     

Measures of spatio-temporal accuracy for time series land cover data

Remote sensing is a useful tool for monitoring changes in land cover over time. The accuracy of such time-series analyses has hitherto only been assessed using confusion matrices. The matrix allows global measures of user, producer and overall accuracies to be generated, but lacks consideration of any spatial aspects of accuracy. It is well known that land cover errors are typically spatially auto-correlated and can have a distinct spatial distribution. As yet little work has considered the temporal dimension and investigated the persistence or errors in both geographic and temporal dimensions. Spatio-temporal errors can have a profound impact on both change detection and on environmental monitoring and modelling activities using land cover data. This study investigated methods for describing the spatio-temporal characteristics of classification accuracy. Annual thematic maps were created using a random forest classification of MODIS data over the Jakarta metropolitan areas for the period of 2001–2013. A logistic geographically weighted model was used to estimate annual spatial measures of user, producer and overall accuracies. A principal component analysis was then used to extract summaries of the multi-temporal accuracy. The results showed how the spatial distribution of user and producer accuracy varied over space and time, and overall spatial variance was confirmed by the principal component analysis. The results indicated that areas of homogeneous land cover were mapped with relatively high accuracy and low variability, and areas of mixed land cover with the opposite characteristics. A multi-temporal spatial approach to accuracy is shown to provide more informative measures of accuracy, allowing map producers and users to evaluate time series thematic maps more comprehensively than a standard confusion matrix approach. The need to identify suitable properties for a temporal kernel are discussed.     

Investigating the impact of the temporal resolution of MODIS data on measured phenology in the prairie grasslands

ABSTRACT

The temporal resolution of vegetation indices (VIs) determines the details of seasonal variation in vegetation dynamics observed by remote sensing, but little has been known about how the temporal resolution of VIs affects the retrieval of land surface phenology (LSP) of grasslands. This study evaluated the impact of temporal resolution of MODIS NDVI, EVI, and per-pixel green chromatic coordinate (GCCpp) on the quality and accuracy of the estimated LSP metrics of prairie grasslands. The near-surface PheonoCam phenology data for grasslands centered over Lethbridge PhenoCam grassland site were used as the validation datasets due to the lack of in situ observations for grasslands in the Prairie Ecozone. MODIS Nadir Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) data from 2001 to 2017 were used to compute the time series of daily reference and to simulate 2–32 day MODIS VIs. The daily reference and simulated multi-day time series were fitted with the double logistic model, and the LSP metrics were then retrieved from the modeled daily time series separately. Comparison within satellite-based estimates showed no significant difference in the phenological metrics derived from daily reference and multi-day VIs resampled at a time step less than 18 days. Moreover, a significant decline in the ability of multi-day VIs to predict detailed temporal dynamics of daily reference VIs was revealed as the temporal resolution increased. Besides, there were a variety of trends for the onset of phenological transitions as the temporal resolution of VIs changed from 1 to 32 days. Comparison with PhenoCam phenology data presented small and insignificant differences in the mean bias error (MBE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) of grassland phenological metrics derived from daily, 8-, 10-, 14-, and 16-day MODIS VIs. Overall, this study suggested that the MODIS VIs resampled at a time step less than 18 days are favorable for the detection of grassland phenological transitions and detailed seasonal dynamics in the Prairie Ecozone.     

基于MERIS影像空间、光谱及时间维信息提取亚像元级的土地覆盖组分

及时获取有效的土地覆盖信息是地球系统模拟的基础。因此,中等空间分辨率传感器如MODIS或MERIS空前的通道设置与观测能力,使其具有快速更新土地覆盖图的能力。本文说明了如何结合MERIS的空间维（像元大小为300m）、光谱维（可见光与近红外范围内15个通道）和时间维（重返周期2—3d）,用于获取不同区域土地覆被组分的亚像元级组成权重。利用4月、7月和8月三期MERIS FR1b级数据得到荷兰主要土地覆被类型的组成权重。单一时相和多时相的数据都使用单个像元最优化的端元数进行线性光谱分解。利用一种形态偏离指数得到MERIS的空间维并用于端元的选择。应用荷兰土地利用数据库（LGN5）25m分辨率的栅格数据作为本文的参考数据。基于这种数据的高分辨率,因此可以从像元和亚像元的水平同时评价的分类精度。结果显示,结合4月和7月的影像可以获得最优的分类结果,精度约为58%。总的说来,亚像元和像元级的分类精度相似。通过几种组分类别和日期的光谱融合表明,物候状况对于数据获取时相最佳结合的选择以及正确识别土地覆盖类型的重要性。     

应用面向对象的决策树模型提取橡胶林信息

橡胶林的无序和不合理种植引发了一系列的生态问题,快速监测橡胶林空间分布及动态变化,对橡胶的合理种植、区域生态环境保护以及有关部门的规划决策有重要的指导意义。以MODIS归一化植被指数NDVI时间序列数据和多时相的Landsat TM数据为基础分析橡胶林的季相和光谱特征,确定橡胶识别的关键时期和特征参数,构建面向对象的决策树分类模型,开展橡胶信息提取研究。结果表明,多时相的遥感数据可反映橡胶的季相特征,以TM数据为基础计算得到的陆表水分指数LSWI和归一化植被指数NDVI可作为橡胶识别的光谱特征参数,橡胶休眠期是利用遥感方法进行橡胶提取的最佳时期。相比于单时相数据,利用包含橡胶关键物候期的多时相遥感数据能得到更高的橡胶林提取精度。