Geography
Title
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
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