Evaluation of directional normalization methods for Landsat TM/ETM+ over primary Amazonian lowland forests

Biodiversity mapping in extensive tropical forest areas poses a major challenge for the interpretation of Landsat images, because floristically clearly distinct forest types may show little difference in reflectance. In such cases, the effects of the bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF) can be sufficiently strong to cause erroneous image interpretation and classification. Since the opening of the Landsat archive in 2008, several BRDF normalization methods for Landsat have been developed. The simplest of these consist of an empirical view angle normalization, whereas more complex approaches apply the semi-empirical Ross–Li BRDF model and the MODIS MCD43-series of products to normalize directional Landsat reflectance to standard view and solar angles. Here we quantify the effect of surface anisotropy on Landsat TM/ETM+ images over old-growth Amazonian forests, and evaluate five angular normalization approaches. Even for the narrow swath of the Landsat sensors, we observed directional effects in all spectral bands. Those normalization methods that are based on removing the surface reflectance gradient as observed in each image were adequate to normalize TM/ETM+ imagery to nadir viewing, but were less suitable for multitemporal analysis when the solar vector varied strongly among images. Approaches based on the MODIS BRDF model parameters successfully reduced directional effects in the visible bands, but removed only half of the systematic errors in the infrared bands. The best results were obtained when the semi-empirical BRDF model was calibrated using pairs of Landsat observation. This method produces a single set of BRDF parameters, which can then be used to operationally normalize Landsat TM/ETM+ imagery over Amazonian forests to nadir viewing and a standard solar configuration.     

一种拓展的半物理时空融合算法及其初步应用

Landsat 5卫星较低的时间分辨率(16天)使得其很难获得大区域的、时相一致的清晰影像数据集。本文发展了一种基于半物理模型的时空融合算法-即乘性调制融合算法,并借助多时序的MODIS反射率数据来生成多时相的Landsat TM/ETM+反射率合成影像,经镶嵌后得到区域尺度的高时空分辨率地表反射率数据集(Landsat TM/ETM+)。本文利用吉林省2006年—2011年的Landsat 5 TM地表反射率数据以及500 m的MOD09A1反射率产品来生成3个时相的Landsat 5 TM反射率合成数据,从而获得研究区在上述时相下地表反射率数据的镶嵌图。初步分析表明,所生成的Landsat 5 TM反射率数据的光谱分布特征与MOD09A1反射率数据较为一致,且图像在整体上光谱特征的连续性较好。     

Use of Field Spectroscopy for Exploring the Impact of Atmospheric Effects on Landsat 5 TM/7 ETM+ Satellite Images Intended for Hydrological Purposes in Cyprus

The spectroradiometric retrieved reflectance of a local crop, namely, beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), is directly compared to the reflectance of Landsat 5TM and 7ETM+ atmospherically corrected and uncorrected satellite images. Also, vegetation indices from the same satellite images—atmospherically corrected and uncorrected—are compared with the corresponding vegetation indices produced from field measurements using a spectroradiometer. Vegetation Indices are vital in the estimation of crop evapotransiration under standard conditions (ET_c) because they are used in stochastic or empirical models for describing crop canopy parameters such as the Leaf Area Index (LAI) or crop height. ET_c is finally determined using the FAO Penman-Monteith method adapted to satellite data, and is used to examine the impact of atmospheric effects. Regarding the reflectance comparison, the main problem was observed in Band 4 of Landsat 5TM and 7ETM+, where the difference, for uncorrected images, was more than 20% and statistically significant. Results regarding ET_c show that omission or ineffective atmospheric corrections in Landsat 5TM,/7ETM+ satellite images always results in a water deficit when estimating crop water demand. Diminished estimated crop water requirements can result in a reduction in output or, if critical, crop failure. The paper seeks to illustrate the importance of removing atmospheric effects from satellite images designated for hydrological purposes.     

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.     

用基于知识的决策树方法分层提取矿区土地类型——以湖北大冶为例

以湖北大冶为研究区,采用多时相陆地卫星遥感图像,通过不同波段组合,以及ironoxide指数和归一化差异植被指数(NDVI)等,详细分析了各地表地物光谱特征和空间特征,建立了研究区分类知识库表,采用决策二叉树法进行分类,得到了高精度分类结果图。基于不同时相分类结果的变化检测,通过对研究区水体污染、矿区复垦、耕地变化等分析,认为从1986～2002年,研究区水质虽有一定改善,但矿区植被退化严重,耕地大量减少,停产矿区复垦仅为20%,为合理保护矿区生态环境和科学管理采矿企业提供了有用资料。     

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.     

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.     

基于归一化指数分析的居民地遥感信息提取

以无锡市作为研究区域,采用2000年Landsat ETM+影像数据,通过对居民地的遥感机理分析,利用植被指数、水体指数、城镇指数相结合的方法提取居民地信息。分析遥感影像的谱间结构特征,通过试验,建立二值逻辑运算式,得到居民地遥感信息提取结果。并用该方法在不同时相不同地区的Landsat TM/ETM+影像上进行了进一步的验证。研究结果表明:该方法可以将居民地信息提取出来,并且效果较好。     

城市扩展强度及其地表热特性遥感定量分析

提出定量确定城市扩展范围及其发展强度的方法——地图密度指数。以中部城市长沙为例,利用Landsat TM/ETM+数据定量评价城市扩张及其热环境特征的变化。首先,集成遥感光谱指数提取地表非渗透表面,然后利用移动窗口算法获得地图密度指数,再根据设定的阈值获得密度指数等级图,依此密度指数等级图识别城市扩展范围及其发展强度。再结合地表温度反演的数据,分析城市格局及其变化与地表热特性变化的定量关系。结果表明,自20世纪90年代以来,长沙市城市区域及其发展密度显著增加,城市发展的密度差异与地表温度相一致。地图密度指数能较好刻画城市扩展范围及其发展强度,并与地表温度空间分布存在较好的对应关系。     

Examining the Phenological Cycle of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Using Satellite and in situ Spectroradiometer Measurements for the Detection of Buried Archaeological Remains

The detection of buried archaeological remains using satellite remote sensing is still an open question in archaeological research. This research investigates how the phenological stages of crops can be used support the detection of buried archaeological remains. Ground remote sensing data using the GER-1500 spectroradiometer were obtained from two sites. One site was the Neolithic settlements in central Greece and the other was in Alampra village in Cyprus. For the latter, an archaeological environment was simulated and ground spectroradiometric measurements were systematically acquired over the different phases of the phenological cycle of barley crops. The acquired in situ reflectance measurements have been converted to "in-band" reflectance values of the Landsat TM/ETM+ using the satellite relative spectral responses filters (RSR). Based on the proposed methodology, 97 Landsat MSS, TM, and ETM+ satellite images were acquired (covering a period from 1983 to 2011), for the Thessalian (Greek) site. It has been found that phenological-cycle observations can provide valuable information for identifying buried archaeological remains. Such observations may be used in cases where the spatial resolution of satellite imagery is not high and therefore cannot help support the detection of archaeological remains using standard interpretation techniques.     

地形抹平与半经验模型的Landsat TM/ETM+地形校正方法

地形校正可以减小地形起伏对地物光谱的影响,提高计算机分类在山区的精度。设计了针对全球土地覆盖分类的Landsat TM/ETM+数据地形校正方法 SCOS(Smoothed COS余弦),首先对地形的坡度角进行抹平处理,很大程度上削弱了地表非朗伯性对地形校正的影响,然后利用简单有效的余弦校正去除地形效应。该方法与其他常用地形校正算法的对比分析是通过对全球不同区域、不同地表覆盖的有代表性的6景Landsat TM/ETM+数据的试验,采用统计分析与目视判读的方式,从过度校正和类内均一性两个方面进行的。结果表明,该方法在目视效果和统计结果上优于常规方法,并且更加简单有效,无需复杂的大气参数及传感器参数,满足全球地表覆盖分类对地形校正的需求。     

Dating flowering cycles of Amazonian bamboo-dominated forests by supervised Landsat time series segmentation

Bamboo-dominated forests are unusual and interesting because their structure and biomass fluctuate in decades-long cycles corresponding to the flowering and mortality rhythm of the bamboo. In southwestern Amazonia, these forests have been estimated to occupy an area of approximately 160 000 km², and a single reproductively synchronized patch can cover up to thousands of square kilometers. Accurate mapping of these forests is challenging, however: the forests are spatially heterogeneous, with bamboo densities varying widely among adjacent sites; much of the area is inaccessible, so field verification of bamboo presence is difficult to obtain and georeferenced records of past flowering events virtually non-existent; and detectability of the bamboo by remote sensing varies considerably during its life cycle. In this study, we develop a supervised time series segmentation approach that allows us to identify both the presence of bamboo forests and the years in which the bamboo flowering and subsequent mortality have occurred. We then apply the method to the entire Landsat TM/ETM+ archive from 1984 to the end of 2018 and validate the classification by visual interpretation of very high resolution imagery. Collecting accurate ground reference data of bamboo presence and bamboo mortality timing is notably difficult in these forests, and we therefore developed a methodology that takes advantage of imperfect reference data obtained from the Landsat time series itself. Our results show that bamboo forests can be differentiated from non-bamboo forests using any of the infrared bands, but band 5 produces the highest classification accuracy. Interestingly, there appears to be a temporal difference in the spectral responses of the three infrared bands to bamboo flowering and mortality: near infrared (band 4) reflectance reacts to the event earlier than shortwave infrared (bands 5 and 7) reflectance. The long Landsat TM/ETM+ archive allows our methodology to detect some areas with two mortality events, with a theoretical maximum interval of 29 years. Analysis of these pixels with repeated mortality confirms that the life cycles of the local bamboo species (Guadua sarcocarpa and G. weberbauerii) last typically 28 years.     

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.     

Landsat TM/ETM+与HJ-1A/B CCD数据自动相对辐射处理及精度验证

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)的全球覆盖30 m分辨率遥感数据进行辐射处理,转换到地表反射率,数据以Landsat TM/ETM+为主,HJ-1A/B CCD数据为补充。海量数据中有些不适宜进行绝对大气校正,为了保证全球覆盖,对这些数据设计开发了一套自动的相对辐射处理及精度验证流程算法,利用相邻数据重叠区域进行相对辐射校正的方式,将数据由Oigital Number(DN)值直接转换为地表反射率,精度验证以MODIS地表反射率产品MOD09GA作为参考,比较对应波段数据的相对一致性,算法采用了图像分块处理技术及OpenMP加速技术提高效率,实际应用结果表明该算法流程可以满足项目对辐射处理精度、速度及自动化程度的要求。     

陡峭山区影像的半经验地形校正

本文提出一种新的半经验地形校正模型SCEDIL(Simple topographic Correction using Estimation of Diffuse Light),该模型通过结合DEM与光学影像数据寻找局部区域内完全光照和阴影的水平像元,并以光照、阴影水平像元的平均反射率值估算局部区域散射辐射比,提高了陡峭山区影像的地形校正精度。以高分一号卫星和Landsat ETM+影像为例,从目视判读和定量分析两个方面,比较分析该算法与传统半经验地形校正算法(C、SCS+C)的校正结果。结果表明:(1)对较为平坦的地形,SCEDIL和C、SCS+C校正都有较好的目视结果;对地面起伏较大的陡峭地形,C、SCS+C校正后,原阴影区域易呈现破碎化特征,SCEDIL校正后,原阴影区域过渡较为平滑。(2)SCEDIL校正后,各波段反射率的均值和标准差优于C、SCS+C校正,SCEDIL校正后,影像总分类精度与同类地物光谱信息均一性均优于C和SCS+C校正。SCEDIL半经验地形校正方法能有效地去除影像中的地形干扰,尤其对陡峭地形的校正效果,优于常规地形校正模型。     

A semi-ellipsoid-model based fuzzy classifier to map grassland in Inner Mongolia,China

Remote sensing techniques offer effective means for mapping plant communities. However, mapping grassland with fine vegetative classes over large areas has been challenging for either the coarse resolutions of remotely sensed images or the high costs of acquiring images with high-resolutions. An improved hybrid-fuzzy-classifier (HFC) derived from a semi-ellipsoid-model (SEM) is developed in this paper to achieve higher accuracy for classifying grasslands with Landsat images. The Xilin River Basin, Inner Mongolia, China, is chosen as the study area, because an acceptable volume of ground truthing data was previously collected by multiple research communities. The accuracy assessment is based on the comparison of the classification outcomes from four types of image sets: (1) Landsat ETM+ August 14, 2004, (2) Landsat TM August 12, 2009, (3) the fused images of ETM+ with CBERS, and (4) TM with CBERS, respectively, and by three classifiers, the proposed HFC-SEM, the tetragonal pyramid model (TPM) based HFC, and the support vector machine method. In all twelve classification experiments, the HFC-SEM classifier had the best overall accuracy statistics. This finding indicates that the medium resolution Landsat images can be used to map grassland vegetation with good vegetative detail when the proper classifier is applied.     

一种顾及空间相关性遥感影像辐射度的地形校正算法

地形校正的目的是消除太阳光照对不规则地面地物辐射值的影响。这种影响会使相似植被类型地物的辐射值发生很大的变化。因此,在地形复杂的地区,地形校正是影像预处理的一个重要步骤。传统的基于单像素的地形校正方法,虽然减小了辐射值的变化,但在太阳入射角低的地区常常出现校正过度的情况。针对这种误差进行分析,提出一种考虑了空间相关性的校正算法,并且利用鄂西地区的Landsat7卫星影像进行的试验证明,该算法优于传统的地形校正模型。     

Acquisition probability differences in cloud coverage of the available Landsat observations over mainland Southeast Asia from 1986 to 2015

Landsat data are the longest available records that consistently document global change. However, the extent and degree of cloud coverage typically determine its usability, especially in the tropics. In this study, scene-based metadata from the U.S. Geological Survey Landsat inventories, ten-day, monthly, seasonal, and annual acquisition probabilities (AP) of targeted images at various cloud coverage thresholds (10% to 100%) were statistically analyzed using available Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI observations over mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) from 1986 to 2015. Four significant results were found. First, the cumulative average acquisition probability of available Landsat observations over MSEA at the 30% cloud cover (CC) threshold was approximately 41.05%. Second, monthly and ten-day level probability statistics for the 30% CC threshold coincide with the temporal distribution of the dry and rainy seasons. This demonstrates that Landsat images acquired during the dry season satisfy the requirements needed for land cover monitoring. Third, differences in acquisition probabilities at the 30% CC threshold are different between the western and eastern regions of MSEA. Finally, the ability of TM, ETM+, and OLI to acquire high-quality imagery has gradually enhanced over time, especially during the dry season, along with consequently larger probabilities at lower CC thresholds.     

胜利矿区植被覆盖度时序变化的空间异质性监测

通过对胜利矿区的地理位置、气候条件等背景的分析,本文为实现获取时序性植被覆盖度的空间异质性的目的,使用ENVI、GIS、Matlab等软件,基于胜利矿区1985—2017年的Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI遥感数据计算NDVI,利用像元二分模型计算植被覆盖度,得到研究区植被覆盖度均值的时序变化情况。采用转移矩阵法和Sen+Mann-Kendall法对研究区域内不同等级的植被覆盖转移情况及变化趋势情况进行分析。研究表明：胜利矿区植被覆盖度均值波动较大,呈轻微下降趋势。在监测时段内68.36%的高植被覆盖区域植被发生了退化,只有3.2%左右的极低植被覆盖区域得到了良好的改善。此外,研究区植被覆盖度受到结构性因子和随机性因子的影响,空间异质性明显,灌溉区由于人为干涉,植被生长良好,极低植被覆盖面积维持在3%以下,植被覆盖显著下降区域主要集中在露天采坑、排土场等矿业景观区。     

A combined spectral and object-based approach to transparent cloud removal in an operational setting for Landsat ETM+

The automated cloud cover assessment (ACCA) algorithm has provided automated estimates of cloud cover for the Landsat ETM+ mission since 2001. However, due to the lack of a band around 1.375 μm, cloud edges and transparent clouds such as cirrus cannot be detected. Use of Landsat ETM+ imagery for terrestrial land analysis is further hampered by the relatively long revisit period due to a nadir only viewing sensor. In this study, the ACCA threshold parameters were altered to minimise omission errors in the cloud masks. Object-based analysis was used to reduce the commission errors from the extended cloud filters. The method resulted in the removal of optically thin cirrus cloud and cloud edges which are often missed by other methods in sub-tropical areas. Although not fully automated, the principles of the method developed here provide an opportunity for using otherwise sub-optimal or completely unusable Landsat ETM+ imagery for operational applications. Where specific images are required for particular research goals the method can be used to remove cloud and transparent cloud helping to reduce bias in subsequent land cover classifications.