An analysis of vegetation indices in relation to tree species diversity using by satellite data in the northern forests of Iran

作者：Hashemi Seyed Armin^*; Chai Mir Mozaffar Fallah; Bayat Shohreh

来源：Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2013, 6(9): 3363-3369.

DOI：10.1007/s12517-012-0576-8

• Vegetation indices
• Shannon-Wiener
• Northern forests of Iran
• Satellite data
• Tree species diversity

Vegetation indices have been introduced for analyzing and assessing the status of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of vegetation using satellite images. However, choosing the best indices to be used in forest biodiversity and vegetation is one of the important problems faced by the users. The purpose of this research is to evaluate six vegetation indices in the analysis of tree species diversity in the northern forests of Iran. The present research uses LISS III sensor data from IRS-P6 satellite. Geometric rectification of images was performed using ground control points, and Chavez model was used for atmospheric correction of the data. The six spectral vegetation indices included NDVI, IPVI, Ashburn Vegetation Index (AVI), TVI, TTVI, and RVI. Shannon-Wiener species diversity index was used to analyze diversity, and the value of the index was calculated in each sample plot. Then, the spectral values of each sample plot were extracted from different bands. The best subset regression was used to analyze the relationship between species diversity and the related bands. The results obtained from the regression showed that polynomial equations under scrutiny as independent variables can assess tree and shrub species diversity better than other bands and compounds used (R-2 = 00.47). The obtained results also indicated a higher capacity in the case of the AVI index for estimating tree species diversity in the under study area.

• 出版日期2013-9