Linking and Harmonizing Forest Spatial Pattern Analyses at European, National and Regional Scales for a Better Characterization of Forest Vulnerability and Resilience

The project ¿Linking and harmonizing the forests spatial pattern analyses at European, national and regional scales for a better characterization of the forests vulnerability and resilience¿ (JRC contract 382391 F1SC) covers one of the seven topics to be studied in the frame of the Regulation (EC) 2152/2003 on the monitoring of forest and environmental interactions, the so-called "Forest Focus" Regulation. It first demonstrates the application of the mathematical morphology based forest spatial pattern analysis tool developed at the Joint Research Centre (GUIDOS); it then develops one index related to potential forest vulnerability, resistance and resilience (FVRR index) on the basis of multi-criteria fuzzy modelling technics. Its final aim is to address linkages between forest spatial pattern and forest ecological functionality with emphasis on forest vulnerability, resistance, resilience. This study was conducted by a European consortium coordinated by the University of Molise (Italy) and included partners from the University of Hamburg (Germany), the European Forest Institute (Finland) and the Forest Research (United Kingdom). The overall supervision of the project and the processing of forest spatial pattern were done by the Joint Research Centre.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Integrating Local and Global Error Statistics for Multi-Scale RBF Network Training: An Assessment on Remote Sensing Data

Background This study discusses the theoretical underpinnings of a novel multi-scale radial basis function (MSRBF) neural network along with its application to classification and regression tasks in remote sensing. The novelty of the proposed MSRBF network relies on the integration of both local and global error statistics in the node selection process. Methodology and Principal Findings The method was tested on a binary classification task, detection of impervious surfaces using a Landsat satellite image, and a regression problem, simulation of waveform LiDAR data. In the classification scenario, results indicate that the MSRBF is superior to existing radial basis function and back propagation neural networks in terms of obtained classification accuracy and training-testing consistency, especially for smaller datasets. The latter is especially important as reference data acquisition is always an issue in remote sensing applications. In the regression case, MSRBF provided improved accuracy and consistency when contrasted with a multi kernel RBF network. Conclusion and Significance Results highlight the potential of a novel training methodology that is not restricted to a specific algorithmic type, therefore significantly advancing machine learning algorithms for classification and regression tasks. The MSRBF is expected to find numerous applications within and outside the remote sensing field

Urban Image Classification: Per-Pixel Classifiers, Sub-Pixel Analysis, Object-Based Image Analysis, and Geospatial Methods

Remote sensing methods used to generate base maps to analyze the urban environment rely predominantly on digital sensor data from space-borne platforms. This is due in part from new sources of high spatial resolution data covering the globe, a variety of multispectral and multitemporal sources, sophisticated statistical and geospatial methods, and compatibility with GIS data sources and methods. The goal of this chapter is to review the four groups of classification methods for digital sensor data from space-borne platforms; per-pixel, sub-pixel, object-based (spatial-based), and geospatial methods. Per-pixel methods are widely used methods that classify pixels into distinct categories based solely on the spectral and ancillary information within that pixel. They are used for simple calculations of environmental indices (e.g., NDVI) to sophisticated expert systems to assign urban land covers. Researchers recognize however, that even with the smallest pixel size the spectral information within a pixel is really a combination of multiple urban surfaces. Sub-pixel classification methods therefore aim to statistically quantify the mixture of surfaces to improve overall classification accuracy. While within pixel variations exist, there is also significant evidence that groups of nearby pixels have similar spectral information and therefore belong to the same classification category. Object-oriented methods have emerged that group pixels prior to classification based on spectral similarity and spatial proximity. Classification accuracy using object-based methods show significant success and promise for numerous urban 3 applications. Like the object-oriented methods that recognize the importance of spatial proximity, geospatial methods for urban mapping also utilize neighboring pixels in the classification process. The primary difference though is that geostatistical methods (e.g., spatial autocorrelation methods) are utilized during both the pre- and post-classification steps. Within this chapter, each of the four approaches is described in terms of scale and accuracy classifying urban land use and urban land cover; and for its range of urban applications. We demonstrate the overview of four main classification groups in Figure 1 while Table 1 details the approaches with respect to classification requirements and procedures (e.g., reflectance conversion, steps before training sample selection, training samples, spatial approaches commonly used, classifiers, primary inputs for classification, output structures, number of output layers, and accuracy assessment). The chapter concludes with a brief summary of the methods reviewed and the challenges that remain in developing new classification methods for improving the efficiency and accuracy of mapping urban areas

Integrating Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

Remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) comprise the two major components of geographic information science (GISci), an overarching field of endeavor that also encompasses global positioning systems (GPS) technology, geodesy and traditional cartography (Goodchild 1992, Estes and Star 1993, Hepner et al. 2005). Although remote sensing and GIS developed quasi-independently, the synergism between them has become increasingly apparent (Aronoff 2005). Today, GIS software almost always includes tools for display and analysis of images, and image processing software commonly contains options for analyzing ‘ancillary’ geospatial data (Faust 1998). The significant progress made in ‘integration’ of remote sensing and GIS has been well-summarized in several reviews (Ehlers 1990, Mace 1991, Hinton 1996, Wilkinson 1996). Nevertheless, advances are so rapid that periodic reassessment of the state-of-the-art is clearly warranted