Mapping beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest structure with airborne hyperspectral imagery

Estimating forest structural attributes using multispectral remote sensing is challenging because of the saturation of multispectral indices at high canopy cover. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of hyperspectral data in estimating and mapping forest structural parameters including mean diameter-at-breast height (DBH), mean tree height and tree density of a closed canopy beech forest (Fagus sylvatica L.). Airborne HyMap images and data on forest structural attributes were collected from the Majella National Park, Italy in July 2004. The predictive performances of vegetation indices (VI) derived from all possible two-band combinations (VI_(i,j) = (R_i − R_j)/(R_i + R_j), where R_i and R_j = reflectance in any two bands) were evaluated using calibration (n = 33) and test (n = 20) data sets. The potential of partial least squares (PLS) regression, a multivariate technique involving several bands was also assessed. New VIs based on the contrast between reflectance in the red-edge shoulder (756–820 nm) and the water absorption feature centred at 1200 nm (1172–1320 nm) were found to show higher correlations with the forest structural parameters than standard VIs derived from NIR and visible reflectance (i.e. the normalised difference vegetation index, NDVI). PLS regression showed a slight improvement in estimating the beech forest structural attributes (prediction errors of 27.6%, 32.6% and 46.4% for mean DBH, height and tree density, respectively) compared to VIs using linear regression models (prediction errors of 27.8%, 35.8% and 48.3% for mean DBH, height and tree density, respectively). Mean DBH was the best predicted variable among the stand parameters (calibration R² = 0.62 for an exponential model fit and standard error of prediction = 5.12 cm, i.e. 25% of the mean). The predicted map of mean DBH revealed high heterogeneity in the beech forest structure in the study area. The spatial variability of mean DBH occurs at less than 450 m. The DBH map could be useful to forest management in many ways, e.g. thinning of coppice to promote diameter growth, to assess the effects of management on forest structure or to detect changes in the forest structure caused by anthropogenic and natural factors.     

柑橘植株冠层氮素和光合色素含量近地遥感估测

柑橘植株营养状况的遥感监测是实现果树轻简高效管理和优质丰产的重要手段,但迄今有关基于低空遥感信息的果树营养诊断研究鲜见报道。本文采用具有490 nm、550 nm、570 nm、671 nm、680 nm、700 nm、720 nm、800 nm、840 nm、900 nm、950 nm等11个波段光谱的八旋翼飞行器(UAV)载多光谱遥感系统,获取距地面100 m高度的哈姆林甜橙植株春季冠层近地遥感信息,对比分析基于多元散射校正(MSC)和标准正态变量(SNV)两种预处理光谱和原始光谱(OS)的偏最小二乘(PLS)、多元线性回归(MLR)、主成分回归(PCR)及最小二乘支持向量机(LS-SVM)等4种模型对冠层叶片氮素、叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量预测精度的影响。结果显示,距地面100 m高度的多光谱信息,通过SNV光谱预处理和MLR建模对冠层叶片氮素、叶绿素a和叶绿素b含量的预测效果均较好,预测集相关系数(Rp)值分别达0.8036、0.8065和0.8107,预测均方根误差(RMSEP)值分别为0.1363、0.0427和0.0243;而在SNV光谱预处理基础上的LS-SVM建模对冠层类胡萝卜素含量预测效果更优,Rp值达到了0.8535,RMSEP值为0.0117。表明利用机载多光谱图像信息可实现对柑橘植株冠层全氮及叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量的较好估算,为大规模柑橘园植株冠层营养状况的精准和高效监测提供了一条新途径。     

The effectiveness of spectral similarity measures for the analysis of hyperspectral imagery

In geological imaging spectrometry (i.e., hyperspectral remote sensing), surface compositional information (e.g., mineralogy and subsequently chemistry) is obtained by statistical comparison (by means of spectral matching algorithms) of known field- or library spectra to unknown image spectra. Though these algorithms are readily used, little emphasis has been given to comparison of the performance of the various spectral matching algorithms. Four spectral measures are presented: three that calculate the angle (spectral angle measure, SAM), the vector distance (Euclidean distance measure, ED) or the vector cross-correlation (spectral correlation measure, SCM), between a known reference and unknown target spectrum and a fourth measure that measures the discrepancy of probability distributions between two pixel vectors (the spectral information divergence, SID). The performance of these spectral similarity measures is compared using synthetic hyperspectral and real (i.e., Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, AVIRIS) hyperspectral data of a (artificial or real) hydrothermal alteration system characterised by the minerals alunite, kaolinite, montmorillonite and quartz. Two statistics are used to assess the performance of the spectral similarity measures: the probability of spectral discrimination (PSD) and the power of spectral discrimination (PWSD). The first relates to the ability of the selected set of spectral endmembers to map a target spectrum, whereas the second expresses the capability of a spectral measure to separate two classes relative to a reference class. Analysis of the synthetic data set (i.e., simulated alteration zones with crisp boundaries at 1–2 nm spectral resolution) shows that (1) the SID outperforms the classical empirical spectral matching techniques (SAM, SCM and ED), (2) that SCM (SID, SAM and ED do not) exploits the overall shape of the reflectance curve and hence its outcomes are (positively and negatively) affected by the spectral range selected, (3) SAM and ED give nearly similar results and (4) for the same reason as in (2), the SCM is also more sensitive (again in positive and negative sense) to the spectral noise added. Results from the study of AVIRIS data show that SAM yields more spectral confusion (i.e., class overlap) than SID and SCM. In turn, SID is more effective in mapping the four target minerals than SCM as it clearly outperforms SCM when the target mineral coincides with the mineral phase on the ground.     

利用Sentinel-2影像超分辨率重建的红树林冠层氮含量反演

氮素是植被整个生命周期的必要元素,红树林冠层氮素含量（CNC）遥感估算对红树林健康监测具有重要意义。以广东湛江高桥红树林保护区为研究区,本文旨在基于Sentinel-2影像超分辨率重建技术进行红树林CNC估算和空间制图。研究首先基于三次卷积重采样、Sen2Res和SupReMe算法实现Sentinel-2影像从20 m分辨率到10 m的重建;然后以重建后的影像和原始20 m影像为数据源构建40个相关植被指数,采用递归特征消除法（SVM-RFE）确定CNC估算的最优变量组合,进而构建CNC反演的核岭回归（KRR）模型;最后选取最优模型实现CNC制图。研究结果表明：基于Sen2Res和SupReMe超分辨率算法的重建影像不仅与原始影像具有很高的光谱一致性,且明显提高了影像的清晰度和空间细节。红树林CNC反演波段主要集中在红（B4）、红边（B5）、近红外波段（B8a）以及短波红外波段（B11和B12）,与“红边波段”相关的植被指数（RSSI和TCARIre1/OSAVI）也是红树林CNC反演的有效变量。基于3种方法重建后10 m的影像构建的模型反演精度（R²val>0.579）均优于原始20 m的影像（R²val=0.504）;基于Sen2Res算法重建影像构建的反演模型拟合精度（R²val=0.630,RMSE_val=5.133,RE_val=0.179）与基于三次卷积重采样重建影像的模型拟合精度（R²val=0.640,RMSE_val=5.064,RE_val=0.179）基本相当,前者模型验证精度（R²cv=0.497,RMSE_cv=5.985,RE_cv=0.214）较高且模型变量选择数量最为合理。综合重建影像光谱细节及模型精度,基于Sen2Res算法重建的Sentinel-2影像在红树林CNC估算中具有良好的应用潜力,能为区域尺度红树林冠层健康状况的精细监测提供有效的方法借鉴和数据支撑。     

Use of field reflectance data for crop mapping using airborne hyperspectral image

Recent developments in hyperspectral remote sensing technologies enable acquisition of image with high spectral resolution, which is typical to the laboratory or in situ reflectance measurements. There has been an increasing interest in the utilization of in situ reference reflectance spectra for rapid and repeated mapping of various surface features. Here we examined the prospect of classifying airborne hyperspectral image using field reflectance spectra as the training data for crop mapping. Canopy level field reflectance measurements of some important agricultural crops, i.e. alfalfa, winter barley, winter rape, winter rye, and winter wheat collected during four consecutive growing seasons are used for the classification of a HyMAP image acquired for a separate location by (1) mixture tuned matched filtering (MTMF), (2) spectral feature fitting (SFF), and (3) spectral angle mapper (SAM) methods. In order to answer a general research question “what is the prospect of using independent reference reflectance spectra for image classification”, while focussing on the crop classification, the results indicate distinct aspects. On the one hand, field reflectance spectra of winter rape and alfalfa demonstrate excellent crop discrimination and spectral matching with the image across the growing seasons. On the other hand, significant spectral confusion detected among the winter barley, winter rye, and winter wheat rule out the possibility of existence of a meaningful spectral matching between field reflectance spectra and image. While supporting the current notion of “non-existence of characteristic reflectance spectral signatures for vegetation”, results indicate that there exist some crops whose spectral signatures are similar to characteristic spectral signatures with possibility of using them in image classification.     

联合星载高光谱影像和堆栈集成学习回归算法的红树林冠层叶绿素含量遥感反演

红树林是世界上生产力最高、价值最高的湿地生态系统之一。冠层叶绿素含量CCC（Canopy Chlorophyll Content）作为红树林重要的生物物理参量,是估算其生产力和评价其健康状况的重要指标。本文利用珠海一号高光谱卫星（OHS）影像与Sentinel-2A多光谱数据计算传统植被指数与组合植被指数并构建了高维数据集,综合利用正态分布检验、最大相关系数法与变量重要性评价进行数据降维和变量优选;分别基于单一线性回归算法、机器学习回归算法和堆栈集成学习回归算法构建了红树林CCC遥感反演模型,探明北部湾红树林CCC的最佳遥感反演模型,验证OHS高光谱影像与Sentinel-2A数据反演红树林CCC的精度差异,评估SNAP-SL2P算法反演红树林CCC的适用性。研究结果表明：（1）通过数据降维和变量选择处理,从高维度OHS数据集选取了8个特征变量,其中RSI_（12,17）、DSI_（12,18）和NDSI_（6,12）组合植被指数对红树林CCC反演精度的贡献率较高;（2）联合OHS数据和最优堆栈GBRT集成学习回归模型（Score=0.999,RMSE=0.963 μg/cm²）的训练精度优于最优RF机器学习回归模型（RMSE降低了7.531 μg/cm²）,明显优于最优Lasso线性回归模型（RMSE降低了19.383 μg/cm²）;（3）在最优堆栈集成学习回归模型下,OHS数据反演红树林CCC的精度（R²=0.761,RMSE=16.738 μg/cm²）高于Sentinel-2A影像（R²=0.615,RMSE=20.701 μg/cm²）;（4）联合OHS和Sentinel-2A数据的最优堆栈集成学习回归模型反演红树林CCC的精度都明显优于SNAP-SL2P算法（R²=0.356,RMSE=49.419 μg/cm²）。研究结果论证了正态分布检验、最大相关系数法和基于XGBoost的特征选择方法有效降低了高维数据集的维度,并得到了最优特征变量;OHS数据的最优堆栈GBRT集成学习回归模型训练精度最高,是估算红树林CCC的最优反演模型;OHS和Sentinel-2A数据都能有效反演红树林CCC（R²均大于0.61）,而OHS数据的估算精度更高（R²大于0.75）;SNAP-SL2P算法不能有效反演红树林CCC（R²小于0.4）,且对红树林CCC数值存在系统性低估。     

植被冠层立体结构与叶片倾角的偏振光效应

植被偏振特性研究对于植被监测与组分定量反演具有极其重要的作用。植被冠层的反射辐射具有偏振特性,这种特性与入射辐射和植被冠层结构相关。本文分析了偏振对光子—叶片—冠层之间细微相互作用及其变化的有效探测能力,并利用研究型扫描式偏振辐射仪RSP(Research Scanning Polarimeter)数据系统对比分析了偏振对不同叶倾角分布的估测。通过上述研究得出以下结论:(1)偏振观测能够对光线在冠层立体结构中的透射反射再出射过程给出精细刻画,若不用偏振手段对这一过程进行甄别并去除,则直接测算的植被散射系数会产生高达140%的误差;(2)利用偏振手段可以为高精度大倾角、多时相遥感观测提供可能,以此可改变目前光学遥感小角度、垂直观测的较严格约束;(3)偏振辐射呈现出随波长的稳定特性(相关系数0.96),使得利用偏振手段可以更好地研究冠层结构;(4)不同叶倾角分布对入射辐射存在不同的偏振反射,为利用多角度偏振信息进行遥感植被精细分类提供了新的途径。本文详细描述冠层结构和植被偏振特性的相互作用,通过对冠层立体结构与叶倾角的研究,刻画了植被定量遥感的方向性信息与高精度实现,为高分辨率遥感定量化的有效信息挖掘提供了新手段。     

Indicator kriging applied to absorption band analysis in hyperspectral imagery: A case study from the Rodalquilar epithermal gold mining area,SE Spain

A new approach to the analysis of hyperspectral data for the purpose of surface compositional mapping is presented in this paper. We use an interpolated value of the absorption band position and the absorption band depth for the diagnostic of mineral absorption features. Using thresholds for this depth and position, the data is transformed to indicator [0,1] values. By kriging these values, we obtain the probability of exceeding certain absorption depth and the probability of a pixel exhibiting absorption features within a specified wavelength region. Using Bayesian statistics, the indicator kriging derived probabilities are used to produce a hard classification result. By adapting the prior probabilities to the dominant mineralogy in the various alteration facies mapped, data stratification is achieved. The classification results are compared to results derived using the spectral angle mapper and maximum likelihood classification. In addition, the results are statistically compared to field spectral data classified into dominant mineralogy. The indicator approach and the spectral angle mapper produce favourable results relative to field data and in comparison to the maximum likelihood classifier. A data set from the Rodalquilar high-sulfidation epithermal gold system in SE Spain, consisting of HyMAP airborne imaging spectrometer data and ASD field spectra focusing on the key minerals alunite, kaolinite, illite and chlorite, is used to illustrate the methodology.     

Monitoring nitrogen concentration of oilseed rape from hyperspectral data using radial basis function

Remote sensing technology is the important tool of digital earth, it can facilitate nutrient management in sustainable cropping systems. In the study, two types of radial basis function (RBF) neural network approaches, the standard radial basis function (SRBF) neural networks and the modified type of RBF, generalized regression neural networks (GRNN), were investigated in estimating the nitrogen concentrations of oilseed rape canopy using vegetation indices (VIs) and hyperspectral reflectance. Comparison analyses were performed to the spectral variables and the approaches. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and determination coefficients (R²) were used to assess their predictability of nitrogen concentrations. For all spectral variables (VIs and hyperspectral reflectance), the GRNN method produced more accurate estimates of nitrogen concentrations than did the SRBF method at all ranges of nitrogen concentrations, and the better agreements between the measured and the predicted nitrogen concentration were obtained with the GRNN method. This indicated that the GRNN method is prior to the SRBF method in estimation of nitrogen concentrations. Among the VIs, the Modified Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index (MCARI), MCARI₁₅₁₀, and Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index are better than the others in estimating oilseed rape canopy nitrogen concentrations. Compared to the results from VIs, the hyperspectral reflectance data also gave an acceptable estimation. The study showed that nitrogen concentrations of oilseed rape canopy could be monitored using remotely sensed data and the RBF method, especially the GRNN method, is a useful explorative tool for oilseed rape nitrogen concentration monitoring when applied on hyperspectral data.     

Synergy of airborne LiDAR and Worldview-2 satellite imagery for land cover and habitat mapping: A BIO_SOS-EODHaM case study for the Netherlands

A major challenge is to develop a biodiversity observation system that is cost effective and applicable in any geographic region. Measuring and reliable reporting of trends and changes in biodiversity requires amongst others detailed and accurate land cover and habitat maps in a standard and comparable way. The objective of this paper is to assess the EODHaM (EO Data for Habitat Mapping) classification results for a Dutch case study. The EODHaM system was developed within the BIO_SOS (The BIOdiversity multi-SOurce monitoring System: from Space TO Species) project and contains the decision rules for each land cover and habitat class based on spectral and height information. One of the main findings is that canopy height models, as derived from LiDAR, in combination with very high resolution satellite imagery provides a powerful input for the EODHaM system for the purpose of generic land cover and habitat mapping for any location across the globe. The assessment of the EODHaM classification results based on field data showed an overall accuracy of 74% for the land cover classes as described according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) taxonomy at level 3, while the overall accuracy was lower (69.0%) for the habitat map based on the General Habitat Category (GHC) system for habitat surveillance and monitoring. A GHC habitat class is determined for each mapping unit on the basis of the composition of the individual life forms and height measurements. The classification showed very good results for forest phanerophytes (FPH) when individual life forms were analyzed in terms of their percentage coverage estimates per mapping unit from the LCCS classification and validated with field surveys. Analysis for shrubby chamaephytes (SCH) showed less accurate results, but might also be due to less accurate field estimates of percentage coverage. Overall, the EODHaM classification results encouraged us to derive the heights of all vegetated objects in the Netherlands from LiDAR data, in preparation for new habitat classifications.     

农田垄行结构对被动微波遥感土壤壤湿度反演的影响

根据离散方法建模垄行结构农田表面微波发射率,与地基多频率微波辐射计实测发射率比较发现：二者之间的平均绝对偏差小于0.01 ,证实了利用离散化方法建模农田表面微波发射率的可行性.在给定条件下不同观测方位角农田表面微波发射率与平坦表面的发射率差值在0.02 与0.05 之间,这说明农田结构微波辐射具有各向异性,行结构对发射率的影响在农田电磁波辐射建模过程中不可忽略.本文分析了不同土壤湿度条件下农田垄行结构可能引起的土壤湿度反演误差,结果表明,土壤湿度变化范围是0.02—0.5 cm³/cm³,垄行结构引起的土壤湿度反演误差为0—0.1 cm³/cm³, 此误差超过了土壤湿度反演的容限值,因此在进行农田参数的遥感提取过程中不可忽略周期性垄行结构对表面发射率的影响.