ARS | Publication request: Species–specific contributions to moderate resolution vegetation indices derived from sub-decimeter aerial photography

Submitted to: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 15, 2009
Publication Date: April 26, 2010
Citation: Browning, D.M., Laliberte, A.S., Rango, A. 2010. Species–specific contributions to moderate resolution vegetation indices derived from sub-decimeter aerial photography – Prospects for phenological monitoring [abstract]. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Proceedings, April 26-30, 2010, San Diego, California. CDROM.

Technical Abstract: High spatial heterogeneity in ground cover, large amounts of exposed bare soil, and modest cover from shrubs and grasses in arid and semi-arid ecosystems challenge the integration of field observations of phenology and remotely sensed data to monitor changes in land surface phenology. This research conducted at the Jornada Basin Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in southern New Mexico capitalizes on object-based classification of sub-decimeter (4 cm) aerial photography to examine species-specific contributions to vegetation index values calculated across a range of grain sizes. Drawing on established field protocols for reproductive phenology, sub-decimeter imagery (4 cm), and object-based image analysis, we explore the relationship between field phenology and vegetation index values and quantify the contribution of individual species to spectral vegetation index values derived from 4 cm imagery aggregated incrementally to 30 m spatial resolution. Color-infrared imagery from a digital mapping camera was collected June 2007 across 15 LTER study sites that transect five distinct vegetation communities along a continuum of grass to shrub dominance. Object-based image analysis of 4 cm imagery provides a detailed depiction of ground cover and allows us to extract species-specific contributions to spectral vegetation indices. The ability to discern species- or functional-group contributions to remotely sensed signals of vegetation greenness can greatly enhance the design of field sampling protocols for phenological research. Furthermore, imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is a cost-effective and increasingly available resource and generation of UAV mosaics has been accomplished so that larger study areas can be addressed. This technology can provide a robust basis for scaling relationships for phenology-based research applications.