Date of Award
Fall 12-1-2004
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Geography, Geology, and Anthropology
First Advisor
Ryan Jensen
Second Advisor
Jay Gatrell
Third Advisor
Robert C. Larson
Abstract
Researchers have established that a relationship exists between biomass and satellite reflectance values (Franklin, 1986; Anderson, 1993). Such studies focus on areas with high vegetative homogeneity, with little research being conducted in urban areas. The purpose of this study was to attain a relationship between aboveground biomass and reflectance values from ASTER's (Advanced Spacebome Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR) sensor. In addition a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was generated from the near infrared and red bands to test its relationship with biomass. Aboveground biomass values were calculated from fifty-one 15 x 15 meter randomly generated plots in Terre Haute, Indiana. Using species specific allometric equations compiled by Ter-Mikaelian and Korzukhin, biomass values were estimated for trees within each plot (1997). After the plots were implemented into a GIS (Geographic Information System), reflectance values were extracted for each site. Simple linear and quadratic regression analyses were ,applied to determine whether a relationship existed between the two variables. Simple linear regression showed that no relationship existed for visible and near infrared bands and a weak positive relationship existed with the NDVI. When quadratically regressed, a marked improvement occurred with all of the bands. A weak positive relationship was attained for all of the reflectance values except the green band, which was concluded to be a poor indicator of biomass. Ultimately, the weak relationships were determined to have resulted from heterogeneous vegetation. Heterogeneous vegetation allowed interference from extraneous features such as grass, shrubs, parking lots, and buildings, which in tum modified the reflectance values. IV To better understand the environmental and economic benefits urban forests provide, it is critical that they are quantified accurately. It would benefit similar future studies to utilize a higher spatial resolution, therefore allowing less mixed pixel confusion, which is prevalent in heterogeneous areas with lower spatial resolution.
Recommended Citation
Overpeck, Joel M., "The Use of Aster Visible and Near-infrared Reflectance Values to Estimate Aboveground Biomass in Terre Haute, IN" (2004). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3580.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/3580