Assessing species variation within forest cover types delineated using color-infrared aerial photographs

Abstract

Color-infrared aerial photographs are widely used to aid in the classification and inventory of large forested tracts. Areas of similar photographic color and texture are delineated and a limited number of categories (or groups of areas with similar features) are identified. The forest cover type, and sometimes the average timber volume, of each group is then determined by "ground-truthing" randomly selected representative areas. This technique provides a quick, cost-effective method of forest cover typing and forest inventory across large landscapes. However, there is potential for significant variation in species composition within each classified group. This variation is often ignored; therefore, classifications made using this technique may be too general to be of much value in forest management.

Citation

Neese, Clarence E.; Gribko, Linda S. 1997. Assessing species variation within forest cover types delineated using color-infrared aerial photographs. In: Pallardy, Stephen G.; Cecich, Robert A.; Garrett, H. Gene; Johnson, Paul S., eds. Proceedings of the 11th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-188. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 400