A model for the retrieval of suspended sediment concentrations in Taihu Lake from TM images

A study was conducted in the Taihu Lake with the aim of deriving a model for the retrieval of suspended sediment （SS） concentrations from Landsat TM images and in situ sampled data. The correlation between suspended sediment concentrations of lake and the reflectance obtained from the TM images is significant. By TM images and in situ sampled data in summer and winter, we obtained a comparative uniform model for the retrieval of suspended sediment concentrations in the Taihu Lake, that is lnSS = a＊（R3/R1） ＋ b, where lnSS is the natural logarithm of the suspended sediment concentration, Rl and R3 are the reflectance coincident with the 1st band and the 3rd band in TM images, a and b are the regression coefficients. Furthermore, we analysed the errors particularly to make sure the model is valid. The model is accurate to within 0.33（RMSE）, suggesting that this model may be applicable to predict suspended sediment in the Taihu Lake from TM image throughout the year.

Water bodies extraction from TM images

Aiming at the problems of high time-consuming, low accuracy and weak versatility of the existing methods of wa- ter extraction based on TM image, this paper combines principal component analysis （PCA） with the modified normalized difference water index （MNDWI） which was improved by XU Han-qiu to construct a false color composite image that could separate water from others easily. This method can realize the water extraction based on TM image by analyzing the spectral characteristics of water in this false color image and establishing a water extraction model. This paper also compares the effi- ciency of this method with MNDWI, （TM2 ＋ TM3） - （TM4 ＋ TM5） and new water index （NWI）, which were applied in the city and mountain of Taiyuan, respectively. The results show that the proposed method can extract water body from TM im- age more rapidly and efficiently and its accuracy is up to 94.03 %. In addition, this method does not require a manual selec- tion threshold, which meets the research reuuirement of high automaticm.

A comparative study of the denoising methods of Thematic Mapper images for forest areas

The noises of remote sensing images, caused by imaging system and ground environment, negatively affect the accuracy and efficiency in extracting forest information from remote sensing images. The denoising is critical for image classifications for forest areas. The objective of this research is to assess the effectiveness of currently used spatial filtering methods for extracting with forest information related from Landsat 5 TM images. Five spatial filtering methods including low-pass filter, median filter, mean filter, sigma filter and enhanced self-adaptive filter were examined. A set of evaluation indices was designed to assess the ability of each denoising method for flatness, edge/boundary retention and enhancement. Based on the designed evaluation indices and visual assessment, it was found that sigma filter （D=1） and enhanced self-adaptive filter were the most effective denoising methods in classifying TM images for forest areas.

Utilizing Landsat TM Imagery to Map Greenhouses in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, China

To build a rapid and accurate method for greenhouse vegetable landinformation extraction using an index model derived from TM digital data of Qingzhou City, ShandongProvince, based on a systematic analysis of the spectral characteristics of different land use typesin the study area, a subset of the image was first made to eliminate the mountainous region notassociated with vegetable distribution, and then water body pixels were masked. With this the V_Iindex model for greenhouse vegetable land extraction was developed. The index model indicatedgreenhouse vegetable land for Qingzhou in April 2002 was concentrated in the southeast and aroundrural residential areas. Field data used for an accuracy evaluation showed that greenhouse hectaresdetermined with remote sensing were 95.9% accurate, and accuracy for the spatial distribution ofgreenhouse vegetable land cross checked with a random sample was 96.3%. Therefore, this approachprovided an effective method for greenhouse vegetable land information extraction and has potentialsignificance for management of greenhouse vegetable production in the study area, as well as NorthChina.

A Method for Retrieving Water-leaving Radiance from Landsat TM Image in Taihu Lake, East China

The visible and infrared bands of Landsat Thematic Mapper （TM） can be used for inland water studies. A method of retrieving water-leaving radiance from TM image over Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province of China was investigated in this article. To estimate water-leaving radiance, atmospheric correction was performed in three visible bands of 485nm, 560nm and 660rim. Rayleigh scattering was computed precisely, and the aerosol contribution was estimated by adopting the clear-water-pixels approach. The clear waters were identified by using the Landsat TM middle-infrared band （2.1 μm）, and the water-leaving radiance of clear water pixels in the green band was estimated by using field data. Aerosol scattering at green band was derived for six points, and interpolated to match the TM image. Assuming the atmospheric correction coefficient was 1.0, the aerosol scattering image at blue and red bands were derived. Based on a simplified atmospheric radiation transfer model, the water-leaving radiance for three visible bands was retrieved. The water-leaving radiance was normalized to make it comparable with that estimated from other remotely sensed data acquired at different times, and under different atmospheric conditions. Additionally, remotely sensed reflectance of water was computed. To evaluate the atmospheric correction method presented in this article, the correlation was analyzed between the corrected remotely sensed data and the measured water parameters based on the retrieval model. The results show that the atmospheric correction method based on the image itself is more effective for the retrieval of water parameters from Landsat TM data than 6S （Second Simulation of the Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum） code based on standard atmospheric and aerosol models.

Estimation of forest parameters based on TM imagery and statistical analysis

One of the primary forestry research interests lies in estimating forest stand parameters by applying empirical or semi-empirical model to establish the relationship between the forest stand parameters and remote sensing data. Using remote sensing image and the inventory data from 2 compartments in northeast Florida, U.S.A., this paper explored the correlation between forest stand parameters and Landsat TM spectral digital number （DN） value. Results showed that less than 50% of the total variance could be explained by linear regression models with only either a single band or such vegetation indices as vegetation index （VI） or normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI） as predicators. In consequence, multi-linear regression models which synthesized more predicators were introduced to estimate forest parameters. Regression results were tested in terms of the other group of data, and verification showed a better capability of explaining over 75% variance except for forest density. The weakness and further improvement of prediction models were also discussed in the article. This paper is expected to provide a better understanding of the relationship between TM spectral and forest characteristics

An automatic detection of green tide using multi-windows with their adaptive threshold from Landsat TM/ETM plus image

Since the atmospheric correction is a necessary preprocessing step of remote sensing image before detecting green tide, the introduced error directly affects the detection precision. Therefore, the detection method of green tide is presented from Landsat TM/ETM plus image which needs not the atmospheric correction. In order to achieve an automatic detection of green tide, a linear relationship（y =0.723 x＋0.504） between detection threshold y and subtraction x（x=λnir–λred） is found from the comparing Landsat TM/ETM plus image with the field surveys.Using this relationship, green tide patches can be detected automatically from Landsat TM/ETM plus image.Considering there is brightness difference between different regions in an image, the image will be divided into a plurality of windows（sub-images） with a same size firstly, and then each window will be detected using an adaptive detection threshold determined according to the discovered linear relationship. It is found that big errors will appear in some windows, such as those covered by clouds seriously. To solve this problem, the moving step k of windows is proposed to be less than the window width n. Using this mechanism, most pixels will be detected[n/k]×[n/k] times except the boundary pixels, then every pixel will be assigned the final class（green tide or sea water） according to majority rule voting strategy. It can be seen from the experiments, the proposed detection method using multi-windows and their adaptive thresholds can detect green tide from Landsat TM/ETM plus image automatically. Meanwhile, it avoids the reliance on the accurate atmospheric correction.

A Feasible Atmospheric Correction Method to TM Image

In this paper, an atmospheric correction method to TM image is presented, which can simulate the atmospheric correction parameters, such as optical depth, sky radiance and path radiance at the time the satellite passes,by using interpolation among local meteorological records, parameterization models and dark pixels. The TM image of the Nanjing area in China was corrected by this method. For analyzing the accuracy of this method, the calculated reflectance, apparent reflectance and ground measured reflectance were compared. NDVI before and after atmospheric cor- rection were also compared. The results show that the method is applicable and efficient in the visible to near infrared band of TM image. In order to improve the accuracy of the method, the infrared spectrum measured data for the two other bands of TM image are required in future field investigations. The method is suitable to many other satellite optical remote sensing images with the same or similar spectral characteristics of TM images.

Improved Geological Interpretation Using Landsat TM Data in Lancang-Jinghong Area, Yunnan Province, China

Landsat TM digital spectral data of Lancang Jinghong area (Yunnan P ro vince) has been used for the purpose of geological interpretation. To meet this object, different image processing techniques including selected band color comp osites, principal component analysis and IHS decorrelation stretching are used t o improve the discrimination of different lithological and structural features i n the area.It was found that IHS decorrelation stretching images obtained from t he transformation of false color composite 741 (in red, green and blue) prov ided the best results based on the original data.By combining the characteristic s of images produced by different approaches and other canonically transformed i mages with available geological data and surface observations, the geological in terpretation could be done with satisfactory degree of accuracy.

Delineating suspended sediment concentration patterns in surface waters of the Changjiang Estuary by remote sensing analysis

Three Landsat TM imageries （taken on 18 May 1987,4 August 1998 and 28 July 2007） were used as the data source to identify the spatial and temporal variations of the suspended sediment concentration （SSC） in surface waters of the Changjiang Estuary.Atmospheric correction was carried out to determine the water-leaving reflectance using the FLAASH module.A regression equation between surveyed SSC and suspended sediment index was chosen to retrieve the SSC from the Landsat TM images.In addition,tidal harmonic analysis was performed to calculate tidal conditions corresponding to the acquisition time of satellite images.The results show that the SSC spatial patterns are similar to the in situ observation results,which show the highest SSC in the region of turbidity maximum zone in the Changjiang Estuary.For the period of 1987 to 2007,the SSC pattern is controlled mainly by tidal dynamic conditions and wind speeds,rather than sediment discharges from the river.

Interpretation of remote sensing of geological structures and prediction of gold mineralization in Mohe area and its adjacent region

The authors took the ETM+ multi-spectra data as the data information and correlation coefficient for each band and carried out their information volume statistics.According to certain criteria,the authors also determined the optimum band-combined image.The image clarity is improved by various enhancements and fusions method.Based on remote sensing geological interpretation in detail,the relationship between remote sensing geological characters and gold mine were analyzed systemically.Using all kinds of remote sensing structure information,combining other research data,the authors determined mainly ore-controlling ore structure.Several prospective areas of gold ores were determined and furthermore significant finding mine target areas was confirmed.

Application of an expert knowledge system in the study of forest spatial patterns

For the sake of exploring how the pattern of Chinese pine （Pinus massoniana Lamb） community changed after the invasion of the pine wood nematode （Bursaphelenchus xylophilus （Steiner ＆ Buhrer） Niclde） in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, we established a test area in the local Chinese pine community. Landsat5 TM images from 1991 and 2006 were integrated with auxiliary data from field investigation and spectral data as additional sources of information. A method of expert knowledge classifier was applied to establish the expert knowledge dataset of the main vegetation cover types from which we obtained a forest type distribution map. The spatial patterns and stability of the forest, before and after the invasion of the pine wood nematode, were analyzed in terms of community patterns. The results indicated that the predominant coniferous forest type changed to a mixed forest. As a result, the forest structure became complex and the interaction between coniferous forest patches became weakened over the period from 1991 to 2006. Therefore, the resistance of the forest eco-system to plant diseases and insect pests and the stability of forest eco-system enhanced.

Estimating Soil Salinity in the Yellow River Delta, Eastern China——An Integrated Approach Using Spectral and Terrain Indices with the Generalized Additive Model

Soil salinity is one of the most severe environmental problems worldwide. It is necessary to develop a soil-salinity-estimation model to project the spatial distribution of soil salinity. The aims of this study were to use remote sensed images and digital elevation model(DEM) to develop quantitative models for estimating soil salinity and to investigate the influence of vegetation on soil salinity estimation. Digital bands of Landsat Thematic Mapper(TM) images, vegetation indices, and terrain indices were selected as predictive variables for the estimation. The generalized additive model(GAM) was used to analyze the quantitative relationship between soil salt content, spectral properties, and terrain indices. Akaike's information criterion(AIC) was used to select relevant predictive variables for fitted GAMs. A correlation analysis and root mean square error between predicted and observed soil salt contents were used to validate the fitted GAMs. A high ratio of explained deviance suggests that an integrated approach using spectral and terrain indices with GAM was practical and efficient for estimating soil salinity. The performance of the fitted GAMs varied with changes in vegetation cover.Salinity in sparsely vegetated areas was estimated better than in densely vegetated areas. Visible red and near-infrared bands, and the second and third components of the tasseled cap transformation were the most important spectral variables for the estimation. Variable combinations in the fitted GAMs and their contribution varied with changes in vegetation cover. The contribution of terrain indices was smaller than that of spectral indices, possibly due to the low spatial resolution of DEM. This research may provide some beneficial references for regional soil salinity estimation.