Geography
A comparison of Landsat ETM+ and high-resolution aerial orthophotos to map urban/suburban forest cover in Massachusetts, USA
Document Type
Article
Abstract
This article examines the extent to which L(ow)-spatial resolution Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) imagery can be used to map urban/suburban forest cover in comparison with H(igh)-spatial resolution (less than 1 m) digital aerial orthophotos from the same study area and time period. This research has practical implications for resource managers, government agencies and forestry researchers interested in mapping large-area urban/suburban forests because Landsat imagery is more accessible, has an extensive historical archive, has broader spatial and temporal coverage and is more cost efficient than H-resolution aerial orthophotos. Classification tree results suggest that Landsat ETM+ imagery is adequate for mapping larger, contiguous patches of forest (i.e. small forest patches greater than 2 acres) in urban/suburban settings, but its spatial resolution is too coarse to accurately map spatially complex residential areas in urban/suburban landscapes. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.
Publication Title
Remote Sensing Letters
Publication Date
2012
Volume
3
Issue
8
First Page
667
Last Page
676
ISSN
2150-704X
DOI
10.1080/01431161.2012.656767
Keywords
aerial photograph, classification, comparative study, forest cover, forest management, forest resource, imagery, Landsat, orthophoto, spatial resolution, suburban area, urban area, vegetation mapping
Repository Citation
Giner, Nicholas M. and Rogan, John, "A comparison of Landsat ETM+ and high-resolution aerial orthophotos to map urban/suburban forest cover in Massachusetts, USA" (2012). Geography. 661.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_geography/661
