Scale Issues of Wetland Classification and Mapping Using Remote Sensing Images: A Case of Honghe National Nature Reserve in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China

Wetland research has become a hot spot linking multiple disciplines presently. Wetland classification and mapping is the basis for wetland research. It is difficult to generate wetland data sets using traditional methods because of the low accessibility of wetlands, hence remote sensing data have become one of the primary data sources in wetland research. This paper presents a case study conducted at the core area of Honghe National Nature Reserve in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. In this study, three images generated by airship, from Thematic Mapper and from SPOT 5 were selected to produce wetland maps at three different wetland landscape levels. After assessing classification accuracies of the three maps, we compared the different wetland mapping results of 11 plant communities to the airship image, 6 plant ecotypes to the TM image and 9 landscape classifications to the SPOT 5 image. We discussed the different characteristics of the hierarchical ecosystem classifications based on the spatial scales of the different images. The results indicate that spatial scales of remote sensing data have an important link to the hierarchies of wetland plant ecosystems displayed on the wetland landscape maps. The richness of wetland landscape information derived from an image closely relates to its spatial resolution. This study can enrich the ecological classification methods and mapping techniques dealing with the spatial scales of different remote sensing images. With a better understanding of classification accuracies in mapping wetlands by using different scales of remote sensing data, we can make an appropriate approach for dealing with the scale issue of remote sensing images.

Automated and refined wetland mapping of Dongting Lake using migrated training samples based on temporally dense Sentinel 1/2 imagery

Wetlands provide vital ecological services for both humans and environment,necessitating continuous,refined and up-to-date mapping of wetlands for conservation and management.in this study,we developed an automated and refined wetland mapping framework integrating training sample migration method,supervised machine learning and knowledge-driven rules using Google Earth Engine(GEE)platform and open-source geospatial tools.We applied the framework to temporally dense Sentinel-1/2 imagery to produce annual refined wetland maps of the Dongting Lake Wetland(DLW)during 2015-2021.First,the continuous change detection(CCD)algorithm was utilized to migrate stable training samples.Then,annual 10 m preliminary land cover maps with 9 classes were produced using random forest algorithm and migrated samples.Ultimately,annual 10 m refined wetland maps were generated based on preliminary land cover maps via knowledge-driven rules from geometric features and available water-related inventories,with Overall Accuracy(OA)ranging from 81.82%(2015)to 93.84%(2020)and Kappa Coefficient(KC)between 0.73(2015)and 0.91(2020),demonstrating satisfactory performance and substantial potential for accurate,timely and type-refined wetland mapping.Our methodological framework allows rapid and accurate monitoring of wetland dynamics and could provide valuable information and methodological support for monitoring,conservation and sustainable development of wetland ecosystem.