Propuesta metodológica para la evaluación de áreas afectadas por incendios mediante el uso de imágenes satelitales (Sierra de la Ventana, Argentina)

Abstract

The study area includes Ernesto Tornquist Provincial Park located in the area of Sierra de La Ventana (Buenos Aires). The aim of this work is to develop a methodology for defi ning and calculating fi re-affected areas, based on visual and digital analysis of satellite imagery (pre and a post fi re) using an image processor and the construction of thematic maps, using GIS. We propose the application of two spectral indices, one for vegetation and another for burned areas, and two supervised classifi cations. Results demonstrated that the Burned Area Index is the technique that provides the best results, allowing the delimitation and calculation of burned areas as well as the discrimination of islands of vegetation not affected by fi re within the burned area. Moreover, it was established that the vegetation affected by the fi re corresponded to conifers and native grasslands.