Land cover mapping at Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero,White Sands,New Mexico,USA using multi-temporal and multi-spectral remote sensing data

The goal of this research is to map land cover patterns and to detect changes that occurred at Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero, White Sands using multispectral Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Advanced Land Imager (ALI), and hyperspectral Hyperion and Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data. The other objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the information dimensionality limits of Landsat 7 ETM+, ASTER, ALI, Hyperion, and AVIRIS data with respect to signal-to-noise and spectral resolution, (2) to determine the spatial distribution and fractional abundances of land cover endmembers, and (3) to check ground correspondence with satellite data. A better understanding of the spatial and spectral resolution of these sensors, optimum spectral bands and their information contents, appropriate image processing methods, spectral signatures of land cover classes, and atmospheric effects are needed to our ability to detect and map minerals from space. Image spectra were validated using samples collected from various localities across Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero. These samples were measured in the laboratory using VNIR–SWIR (0.4–2.5 μm) spectra and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) method. Dry gypsum deposits, wet gypsum deposits, standing water, green vegetation, and clastic alluvial sediments dominated by mixtures of ferric iron (ferricrete) and calcite were identified in the study area using Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF), Pixel Purity Index (PPI), and n-D Visualization. The results of MNF confirm that AVIRIS and Hyperion data have higher information dimensionality thresholds exceeding the number of available bands of Landsat 7 ETM+, ASTER, and ALI data. ASTER and ALI data can be a reasonable alternative to AVIRIS and Hyperion data for the purpose of monitoring land cover, hydrology and sedimentation in the basin. The spectral unmixing analysis and dimensionality eigen analysis between the various datasets helped to uncover the most optimum spatial–spectral–temporal and radiometric-resolution sensor characteristics for remote sensing based on monitoring of seasonal land cover, surface water, groundwater, and alluvial sediment input changes within the basin. The results demonstrated good agreement between ground truth data and XRD analysis of samples, and the results of Matched Filtering (MF) mapping method.     

基于ETM~+和ASTER近红外波段的水体信息提取对比

利用Landsat ETM+和ASTER近红外波段数据进行了水体信息提取,然后利用知识规则对2种提取结果进行进一步分类,并分析了波谱分辨率的差异对水体信息提取结果的影响。实验表明,基于Landsat ETM+数据的水体提取总体精度为82.4%,基于ASTER数据的水体信息提取结果总体精度为92.4%;在空间分辨率相同情况下,波谱分辨率的提高可以有效地提高水体信息提取的精度。     

Study of spectral signatures for exploration of Bauxite ore deposits in Panchpatmali,India

Spectral analysis technique has been utilized to identify the Bauxite mineral occurrences in Panchpatmali, Orissa, India. Spectral processing of Landsat ETM+ data has been carried out by converting the digital data from quantized and calibrated values to reflectance values. Minimum noise fraction transformation is used to determine the inherent dimensionality of reflected Landsat ETM+ data, to segregate noise in the data, and to reduce the computational requirements for subsequent processing and interactively to locate pure pixels within the data-set, projecting n-dimensional scatterplots. Spectral processing results are displayed in the form of images corresponding to each group of pixels (endmembers). Mixed tune matched filtering method has been applied on Landsat ETM+ images which gave three score (abundance) images for three different classes (endmembers) such as Bauxite, vegetation and soil. Further, mineralized zones are identified using image fusion of ERS-2 SAR and Landsat ETM+ data using intensity-hue-saturation technique.     

Cross-sensor calibration between Ikonos and Landsat ETM+ for spectral mixture analysis

Spectral mixture analysis is an algorithm that is developed to overcome the weakness in traditional land-use/land-cover (LULC) classification where each picture element (pixel) from remote sensing is assigned to one and only one LULC type. In reality, a remotely sensed signal from a pixel is often a spectral mixture from several LULC types. Spectral mixture analysis can derive subpixel proportions for the endmembers from remotely sensed data. However, one frequently faces the problem in determining the spectral signatures for the endmembers. This study provides a cross-sensor calibration algorithm that enables us to obtain the endmember signatures from an Ikonos multispectral image for spectral mixture analysis using Landsat ETM+ images. The calibration algorithm first converts the raw digital numbers from both sensors into at-satellite reflectance. Then, the Ikonos at-satellite reflectance image is degraded to match the spatial resolution of the Landsat ETM+ image. The histograms at the same spatial resolution from the two images are matched, and the signatures from the pure pixels in the Ikonos image are used as the endmember signatures. Validation of the spectral mixture analysis indicates that the simple algorithm works effectively. The algorithm is not limited to Ikonos and Landsat sensors. It is, in general, applicable to spectral mixture analysis where a high spatial resolution sensor and a low spatial resolution sensor with similar spectral resolutions are available as long as images collected by the two sensors are close in time over the same place.     

ASTER与Landsat ETM~+热红外传感器数据的比较研究

利用3对同日过空的ASTER和ETM+影像对,开展了ETM+和ASTER热红外影像的定量比较,求出了二者的关系转换方程。定量研究结果表明,ASTER和ETM+热红外数据具有极显著的正相关关系,所求出的转换关系方程有很高的精度。但二者仍有一定的差异,表现在ASTER数据反演的传感器处温度要比ETM+平均高0.66℃~0.82℃,其所表现的热信息量也要比ETM+丰富且连续。     

北京城市地表温度的遥感时空分析

运用Landsat TM/ETM+和Terra ASTER数据,对北京市1990~2007年夏季的地表温度进行了反演,并对地表温度的空间分布、时间变化作出了分析。对Landsat TM/ETM+数据的温度反演采用了普适性单波段算法,ASTER数据的温度反演采用了劈窗算法。通过对地表温度数据的直方图均衡处理以及综合对比分析,总结出北京地区历年来夏季地表温度的空间分布格局及该格局随北京城市发展的变化规律,分析了研究成果的不足,提出了下一步要努力的方向。     

绿洲—荒漠交错带地下水位分布的遥感模型研究

以利用卫星遥感数据评价干旱区绿洲－荒漠交错带地下水位的分布作为主要研究目的，使用波段Landsat-7ETM 图像，用遥感－数学－模型学融合的研究方法，在实地考察地下水位，土壤水分和其他辅助资料的基础上，建立土壤水分和地下水位的实验方程，提出了评价地下水位分布的遥感模型－GLDRS模型。利用GLDRS模型对新疆策勒绿洲－荒漠交错带进行了实地验证，结果表明，研究结果符合实际，GLDRS多波段模型优越单波段模型，理论地下水位和实测地下水位之间的相关系数为0．901。     

Monitoring levels of cyanobacterial blooms using the visual cyanobacteria index (VCI) and floating algae index (FAI)

Cyanobacterial bloom is a growing environmental problem in inland waters. In this study, we propose a method for monitoring levels of cyanobacterial blooms from Landsat/ETM+ images. The visual cyanobacteria index (VCI) is a simple index for in-situ visual interpretation of cyanobacterial blooms levels, by classifying them into six categories based on aggregation (e.g., subsurface blooms, surface scum). The floating algae index (FAI) and remote sensing reflectance in the red wavelength domain, which can be obtained from Landsat/ETM+ images, were related to the VCI for estimating cyanobacteria bloom levels from the Landsat/ETM+ images. Nine field campaigns were carried out at Lakes Nishiura and Kitaura (Lake Kasumigaura group), Japan, from June to August 2012. We also collected reflectance spectra at 20 stations for different VCI levels on August 3, 2012. The reflectance spectra were recalculated in correspondence to each ETM+ band, and used to calculate the FAI. The FAI values were then used to determine thresholds for classifying cyanobacterial blooms into different VCI levels. These FAI thresholds were validated using three Landsat/ETM+ images. Results showed that FAI values differed significantly at the respective VCI levels except between levels 1 and 2 (subsurface blooms) and levels 5 and 6 (surface scum and hyperscum). This indicated that the FAI was able to detect the high level of cyanobacteria that forms surface scum. In contrast, the Landsat/ETM+ band 3 reflectance could be used as an alternative index for distinguishing surface scum and hyperscum. Application of the thresholds for VCI classifications to three Landsat/ETM+ images showed that the volume of cyanobacterial blooms can be effectively classified into the six VCI levels.     

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.     

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.     

Calibration of ASTER and ETM + imagery using empirical line method—A case study of north-east of Hajjah, Yemen

This study is aimed at using the Empirical Line Method (ELM) to eliminate atmospheric effects with respect to visible and near infrared bands of advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) and enhanced thematic mapper plus (ETM+) data. Two targets (Amran limestone as light target and quartz-biotite-sericite-graphite schists as dark target), which were widely exposed and easy to identify in the imagery were selected. The accuracy of the atmospheric correction method was evaluated from three targets (vegetation cover, Amran limestone and Akbra shale) of the surface reflectance. Analytical spectral devices (ASD) FieldSpec3 was used to measure the spectra of target samples. ETM+ data were less influenced by the atmospheric effect when compared to ASTER data. Normalized differences vegetation indices (NDVI) displayed good results with reflectance data when compared with digital number (DN) data because it is highly sensitive to ground truth reflectance (GTR). Most of the differences observed before and after calibration of satellite images (ASTER and ETM+) were absorbed in the SWIR region.      

ASTER和TM/ETM+遥感数据融合监测土地覆盖变化

在人们纷纷选择IKONOS、QUICKBIRD、SPOT-5等高分辨率影像监测土地利用/覆盖变化之际,以北京海淀区为例,尝试采用Brovey变换和主成分分析(PCA)法融合ASTER、TM/ETM+中等分辨率影像,充分利用ASTER、TM/ETM+数据的多光谱和较高空间分辨率特性,挖掘其在土地覆盖变化监测中的潜力,为大规模监测土地利用/覆盖变化提供科学参考。研究将2003年ASTER多光谱3N、2、1波段与1999年ETM+PAN波段进行Brovey变换;1992年TM543与1999年ETM+PAN波段进行PCA融合,快速发现土地覆盖变化信息。经验证,变化发现精度达92.50%,符合项目精度要求。试验表明:在缺乏高分辨率影像的地区,选择价格相对便宜的AS-TER和TM/ETM+数据,采用Brovey变换和主成分分析(PCA)法进行融合,可有效监测土地覆盖变化,节约动态监测成本,二者具有很大的应用价值,值得推广。     

全球30m分辨率多光谱影像数据自动化处理的实践与思考

全球地表覆盖遥感制图与关键技术研究项目要求对两个基准年度(2000年、2010年)全球30 m分辨率的多光谱遥感数据进行辐射处理和几何精纠正处理,为地表覆盖制图完成数据准备。数据以Landsat TM/ETM+为主,HJ-1A/B CCD数据为补充,共计2万多景影像需要进行辐射处理,有1000多景HJ-1A/B CCD影像需要几何精纠正。如此大规模的数据处理,自动化处理是必然的选择。本文介绍了HJ-1A/B CCD图像几何精纠正自动化实现中关键问题的解决方法和精度评价结果,Landsat TM/ETM+和HJ-1A/B CCD图像自动化辐射校正中关键问题的解决方法和精度评价结果,以及大规模的数据处理活动引发的一些思考。     

融合Landsat ETM+和MODIS数据估算高时空分辨率地表短波反照率

提出一种通过融合高空间低时间分辨率、低空间高时间分辨率地表短波反照率,来估算高时空分辨率地表短波反照率的方法。首先,利用Landsat ETM+数据,通过窄波段到宽波段的转换得到一景或多景空间分辨率较高的ETM+蓝天空短波反照率;然后,在MODIS短波反照率产品基础上,以天空光比例因子为权重,得到空间分辨率较低的MODIS蓝天空短波反照率;最后,利用STARFM(Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model)模型融合ETM+短波反照率的空间变化信息和MODIS短波反照率的时间变化信息,得到高时空分辨率的地表短波反照率。针对STARFM模型在异质性区域估算精度降低的问题,通过以MODIS反照率影像各像元的端元(各地类)反照率取代MODIS像元反照率来提取时空变化等信息参与STARFM模型的融合过程,达到提高异质性区域估算精度的目的。结果显示,直接利用STARFM模型估算得到的高空间分辨率地表短波反照率处在合理的精度范围内(RMSE0.02),用改进后的STARFM模型估算得到的异质性区域短波反照率和真实ETM+短波反照率间的相关系数增大。     

基于TM/ETM和DEM数据的BRDF特征提取

巴丹吉林沙漠地区地物类型单一,地形起伏,形成了天然的二向反射数据集;因此,本研究利用巴丹吉林沙漠地区的ASTER GDEM产品提供的地面高程数据,计算出每个坡元所对应的太阳-观测几何信息(包括太阳天顶角与方位角和观测天顶角与方位角),假设沙丘上每个坡元的表面结构不随其坡度和坡向变化,加上Landsat-TM/ETM+对地观测的信息,就形成了对同一地物的多角度观测数据集,从而可以提取该地区的BRDF特征。为了检验该方法,利用该方法获取的BRDF特征信息模拟了25景Landsat-TM/ETM+数据,并与实际的Landsat-TM/ETM+图像进行对比分析。结果表明, Landsat-TM/ETM+前4个波段的模拟图像与真实图像地表平均反射率相比,平均误差分别为2.80%、1.92%、2.68%和2.32%,高于一般辐射定标中5%—7%的误差要求,因此本研究方法可为高分辨率数据的交叉辐射定标等应用提供参考。     

Mapping Oolitic Iron Ore Deposits in the Ashumaysi Formation,Western Saudi Arabia,Using Different Remote Sensing Techniques Applied to Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus Data (ETM+)

Mapping the surficial extent of oolitic iron ore deposits hosted in the Oligo–Miocene sedimentary rocks of the Ashumaysi Formation, western Saudi Arabia, was carried out using Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data. Ore samples were collected from four various locations in the study area, and were studied in the laboratory using the GER 3700 Spectroradiometer (0.4–2.5 µm) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Principal component analysis (PCA), minimum noise fraction (MNF), and minimum distance classification were used and assessed to map mineralization zones in the study area. Good correspondences were observed between the results obtained from the above mentioned techniques, spectral reflectance analyses, and XRD. The confusion matrix results revealed that mapping of iron ores using MNF is better and more accurate than using PCA. Good matching was also observed between the spectral reflectance curves of the collected samples and the corresponding pixels from Landsat 7 ETM+. The results demonstrated the usefulness of the image processing and interpretation of Landsat 7 ETM+ data for the detection and delineation iron ore deposits in arid and semi-arid areas.     

Comparison between four methods for data fusion of ETM+ multispectral and pan images

Four data fusion methods, principle component transform (PCT), brovey transform (BT), smoothing filter-based intensity modulation (SFIM), and hue, saturation, intensity (HSI), are used to merge Landsat—7 ETM+ multispectral bands with ETM+ panchromatic band. Each of them improves the spatial resolution effectively but distorts the original spectral signatures to some extent. SFIM model can produce optimal fusion data with respect to preservation of spectral integrity. However, it results the most blurred and noisy image if the coregistration between the multispectral and pan images is not accurate enough. The spectral integrity for all methods is preserved better if the original multispectral images are within the spectral range of ETM+ pan image.     

A physically based approach to model LAI from MODIS 250 m data in a tropical region

A time series of leaf area index (LAI) has been developed based on 16-day normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) at 250 m resolution (MOD250_LAI). The MOD250_LAI product uses a physical radiative transfer model which establishes a relationship between LAI, fraction of vegetation cover (FVC) and given patterns of surface reflectance, view-illumination conditions and optical properties of vegetation. In situ measurements of LAI and FVC made at 166 plots using hemispherical photography served for calibration of model parameters and validation of modelling results. Optical properties of vegetation cover, summarized by the light extinction coefficient, were computed at the local (pixel) level based on empirical models between ground-measured tree crown architecture at 85 sampling plots and spectral values in Landsat ETM+ bands. 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. The results revealed high compatibility of the produced MOD250_LAI data set with ground truth information and the 30 m resolution Landsat ETM+ LAI estimated using the similar algorithm. The produced MOD250_LAI was also compared with the global MODIS 1000-m LAI product (MOD15A2 LAI). Results show good consistency of the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics between the two LAI products. However, the results also showed that the annual LAI amplitude by the MOD15A2 product is significantly higher than by the MOD250_LAI. This higher amplitude is caused by a considerable underestimation of the tropical rainforest LAI by the MOD15A2 during the seasonal phases of low leaf production.     

Remote sensing and GIS application in the detection of environmental degradation indicators

The main aim of this research is to highlight the environment change indicators during the last 20 years in a representa-tive area of the southern part of Iraq(Basrah Province was taken as a case) to understand the main causes which led to widespread environment degradation phenomena using a 1:250000 mapping scale.Remote sensing and GIS’s software were used to classify Landsat TM in 1990 and Landsat ETM+ in 2003 imagery into five land use and land cover(LULC) classes:vegetation land,sand land,urban area,unused land,and water bodies.Supervised classification and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),Normalized Difference Build-up Index(NDBI),Normalized Difference Water Index(NDWI),Normalized Difference Salinity In-dex(NDSI),and Topsoil Grain Size Index(GSI) were adopted in this research and used respectively to retrieve its class boundary.The results showed a clear deterioration in vegetative cover(514.9 km2) and an increase of sand dune accumulations(438.6 km2),accounting for 10.1,and 10.6 percent,respectively,of the total study area.In addition,a decrease in the water bodies’ area was de-tected(228.9 km2).Sand area accumulations had increased in the total study area,with an annual increasing expansion rate of(33.7 km2·yr·1) during the thirteen years covered by the study.It is therefore imperative that Iraqi government undertake a series of pru-dent actions now that will enable to be in the best possible position when the current environmental crisis ultimately passes.     

Fusion of TerraSAR-x and Landsat ETM+ data for protected area mapping in Uganda

TerraSAR-X satellite acquires very high spatial resolution data with potential for detailed land cover mapping. A known problem with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is the lack of spectral information. Fusion of SAR and multispectral data provides opportunities for better image interpretation and information extraction. The aim of this study was to investigate the fusion between TerraSAR-X and Landsat ETM+ for protected area mapping using high pass filtering (HPF), principal component analysis with band substitution (PCA) and principal component with wavelet transform (WPCA). A total of thirteen land cover classes were identified for classification using a non-parametric C 4.5 decision tree classifier. Overall classification accuracies of 74.99%, 83.12% and 85.38% and kappa indices of 0.7220, 0.8100 and 0.8369 were obtained for HPF, PCA and WPCA fusion approaches respectively. These results indicate a high potential for a combined use of TerraSAR-X and Landsat ETM+ data for protected area mapping in Uganda.