Abstract
Mapping alpine vegetation at a meso-scale (catchment level) using remote sensing presents difficulties due to a patchy distribution and heterogeneous spectral appearance of the plant cover. We discuss issues of generalization and accuracy assessment in this case study when using a digital CIR air photo for an automatic classification of the dominant plant communities. Spectral information from an aerial photograph was supplemented by classified plant communities in field and by topographical information derived from a DEM. 150 control points were tracked in the field using a GPS. The outcome from three alternative classifications was analysed by Kappa statistics, user’s and producer’s accuracy. Overall accuracy did not differ between the classifications although producer’s and user’s accuracy for separate classes differed together with total surface (ha) and distribution. Manual accuracy assessment when recording the occurrence of the correct class within a radius of 5 meters from the control points generated an improvement of 16 % of the total accuracy. About 10 plant communities could be classified with acceptable accuracy where the chosen classification scheme determined the final outcome. If a high resolution pixel mosaic is generalized to units that match the positional accuracy of simple GPS this generalization may also influence the information content of the image.
Highlights
Vegetation maps are important in terrestrial ecology as soon as an area with more than one plant community is described or analyzed
In total 22 plant communities were identified in field within the plots of grid points
Using remote sensing for vegetation mapping at the community level presents a difficulty in distinguishing ecologically meaningful categories at a high resolution, which are important in determining major ecological processes at landscape level
Summary
Vegetation maps are important in terrestrial ecology as soon as an area with more than one plant community is described or analyzed. The basic unit for study is often a catchment (watershed) and in alpine regions catchments are normally well-defined due to the dominant topographical relief. These catchments are adequate units in terms of functional ecology Mapping alpine vegetation at the intermediary scale (mesoscale), e. The normally patchy and heterogeneous appearance of the alpine and arctic vegetation resulting from the harsh environment in combination with the rugged terrain, complicates mapping of plant communities by image classification and processing of spectral data (FRANK, 1988; SKIDMORE, 1989; TREITZ et al, 1992; FRANKLIN & WOODCOCK, 1997). We present a case study from an alpine landscape in northern Swedish Lapland that addresses some of these issues
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
