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Title: MONITORING RANGELANDS WITH MULTI-RESOLUTION REMOTELY SENSED DATA

Author
item SIVANPILLAI, RAMESH - WY GEOGRAPHIC INFO SCI CT
item Booth, D
item Cox, Samuel
item DRIESE, KENNETH - WY GEOGRAPHIC INFO SCI CT

Submitted to: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2003
Publication Date: 5/23/2004
Citation: Sivanpillai, R., Booth, D.T., Cox, S.E., Driese, K. 2004. Abstract. Monitoring rangelands with multi-resolution remotely sensed data. p. 215. Proceedings of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Conference.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS is developing aerial methods for rangeland environmental assessment by acquiring very-large scale aerial (VLSA) imagery from which to measure ground cover. Their methods incorporate systematic sampling using regularly-spaced flight lines and image-acquisition intervals providing for statistically-adequate sampling such that initial and subsequent surveys can be compared in tests for ecologically-important change over time. Although VLSA promises to increase accuracy and decrease the costs of rangeland environmental assessments, further improvements in cost efficiency may be possible if dependable and reliable estimates can be obtained from space imagery. Therefore, the USDA-ARS is interested in developing ancillary remotely-sensed data sources to monitor large areas of rangelands more frequently. LANDSAT data were selected for its repeat coverage and spectral characteristics. Numerous studies have attempted to find some utility for LANDSAT in rangeland monitoring. However, these efforts have not focused on measuring ground cover. Through collaborative research, the USDA-ARS and the University of Wyoming are evaluating the utility of a multi-scale monitoring approach in Wyoming. First, we are analyzing the similarities and dissimilarities in the spectral data characteristics using multivariate statistical techniques. Issues related to spectral and spatial resolutions of the two data sources will be identified and their impact on the measurement of vegetation and bare-ground cover will be quantified. Finally, vegetation and bare-ground estimates obtained from the two methods will be compared. If the estimates are not statistically different, then LANDSAT can be used for such rangeland monitoring activities.