Mapping Impervious Surface Distribution with Integration of SNNP VIIRS-DNB and MODIS NDVI Data

Wei Guo,Dengsheng Lu,Yanlan Wu,Jixian Zhang

doi:10.3390/rs70912459

Abstract

Data from the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Line-scan System are often used to map impervious surface area (ISA) distribution at regional and global scales, but its coarse spatial resolution and data saturation produce high inaccuracy in ISA estimation. Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite’s Day/Night Band (VIIRS-DNB) with its high spatial resolution and dynamic data range may provide new insights but has not been fully examined in mapping ISA distribution. In this paper, a new variable—Large-scale Impervious Surface Index (LISI)—is proposed to integrate VIIRS-DNB and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data for mapping ISA distribution. A regression model was established, in which LISI was used as an independent variable and the reference ISA from Landsat images was a dependent variable. The results indicated a better estimation performance using LISI than using a single VIIRS-DNB or MODIS NDVI variable. The LISI-based approach provides accurate spatial patterns from high values in core urban areas to low values in rural areas, with an overall root mean squared error of 0.11. The LISI-based approach is recommended for fractional ISA estimation in a large area.

Highlights

Impervious surface area (ISA) is defined as any man-made places such as buildings, highways, streets, and parking lots where water cannot penetrate [1,2,3,4]
Landsat 8 OLI data for the selected cities; (2) develop a new index based on the combination of VIIRS-DNB and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data; (3) establish regression models for ISA estimation; and
This study indicates that individual MODIS NDVI data are not suitable for ISA mapping in China because of the considerable difference of vegetation conditions in Eastern and Western China

Summary

Introduction

Impervious surface area (ISA) is defined as any man-made places such as buildings, highways, streets, and parking lots where water cannot penetrate [1,2,3,4]. Population increases and economic conditions have led to rapid ISA expansion in the past three decades, especially in China [5,6,7,8]. Increasing attention has focused on mapping ISA distribution in the past two decades [3,16,17]. Many studies on ISA mapping focused on individual cities using high or medium spatial resolution images such as QuickBird, IKONOS, Landsat, and ASTER [3]. Considering the labor intensity and cost in regional or global ISA mapping, coarse spatial resolution images such as the U.S Defense

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