Vegetation mapping in an alkali landscape - application of airborne hyperspectral data

Authors

  • Péter Burai Karoly Robert College, Research Institute of Remote Sensing and Rural Development, Mátrai út 36, H-3200 Gyöngyös
  • Csaba Lénárt Karoly Robert College, Research Institute of Remote Sensing and Rural Development, Mátrai út 36, H-3200 Gyöngyös https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1483-8723
  • Orsolya Valkó MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6938-1997
  • László Bekő Karoly Robert College, Research Institute of Remote Sensing and Rural Development, Mátrai út 36, H-3200 Gyöngyös
  • Zsuzsanna Szabó University of Debrecen, Department of Physical Geography and Geoinformatics Egyetem tér 1. Debrecen H-4032 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0668-2474
  • Balázs Deák MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6938-1997

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56617/tl.3635

Keywords:

vegetation mapping, Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), alkali grassland, alkali meadow, alkali marsh

Abstract

We mapped the vegetation of an alkali landscape using airborne hyperspectral data. The aim of our study was to test the applicability of hyperspectral data in mapping of these complex habitats. We tested the performance of three frequently applied classifiers (Maximum Likelihood Classifier – MLC, Random Forest – RF and Support Vector Machine – SVM) using 10 and 30 training pixels and MNF transformed bands. For data collection we used an AISA EAGLE II sensor, which produced 1 m ground pixel size. Based on the coenological categories, land cover types and the experiences of the preliminary field survey we assigned the training polygons to 20 classes. Classes were aggregated to four main habitat types: steppes, open alkali swards, alkali meadows and alkali and non-alkali marshes. We found that the SVM and the RF classifiers provided a high overall accuracy for most of the classes independently from the number of training pixels. Even though the MLC classifier provided a high overall accuracy when using 30 training pixels, its efficiency was low when using 10 training pixels. Overall accuracies increased considerably in case of all classifiers when using aggregated habitat types. Based on our results, in complex, open habitats the SVM is the most effective classifier, it provided the highest accuracy. Furthermore it was the less sensitive for the low number of training pixels, thus can be effective in those cases when the number of training pixels is low for some classes.

Author Biographies

  • Péter Burai, Karoly Robert College, Research Institute of Remote Sensing and Rural Development, Mátrai út 36, H-3200 Gyöngyös

    pburai@karolyrobert.hu

  • Csaba Lénárt, Karoly Robert College, Research Institute of Remote Sensing and Rural Development, Mátrai út 36, H-3200 Gyöngyös

    lenart.dr@gmail.com

  • Orsolya Valkó, MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary

    valkoorsi@gmail.com

  • László Bekő, Karoly Robert College, Research Institute of Remote Sensing and Rural Development, Mátrai út 36, H-3200 Gyöngyös

    lbeko@karolyrobert.hu

  • Zsuzsanna Szabó, University of Debrecen, Department of Physical Geography and Geoinformatics Egyetem tér 1. Debrecen H-4032

    zs.szabozsuzsa@gmail.com

  • Balázs Deák, MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary

    debalazs@gmail.com

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Published

2016-07-13

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How to Cite

Vegetation mapping in an alkali landscape - application of airborne hyperspectral data. (2016). JOURNAL OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY | TÁJÖKOLÓGIAI LAPOK , 14(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.56617/tl.3635

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