THE METHODS OF EXTRACTING WATER INFORMATION FROM SPOT IMAGE

Some techniques and methods for deriving water information from SPOT-4(XI) image were investigated and discussed in this paper. An algorithm of decision tree (DT) classification which includes several classifiers based on the spectral responding characteristics of water bodies and other objects, was developed and put forward to delineate water bodies. Another algorithm of decision tree classification based on both spectral characteristics and auxiliary information of DEM and slope (DTDS) was also designed for water bodies extraction. In addition, supervised classification method of maximum likelyhood classification (MLC), and unsupervised method of interactive self organizing dada analysis technique (ISODATA) were used to extract waterbodies for comparison purpose. An index was designed and used to assess the accuracy of different methods adopted in the research. Results have shown that water extraction accuracy was variable with respect to the various techniques applied. It was low using ISODATA, very high using DT algorithm and much higher using both DTDS and MLC.

Simulation on slope uncertainty derived from DEMs at different resolution levels:a case study in the Loess Plateau

Slope is one of the crucial terrain variables in spatial analysis and land use planning, especially in the Loess Plateau area of China which is suffering from serious soil erosion. DEM based slope extracting method has been widely accepted and applied in practice. However slope accuracy derived from this method usually does not match with its popularity. A quantitative simulation to slope data uncertainty is important not only theoretically but also necessarily to applications. This paper focuses on how resolution and terrain complexity impact on the accuracy of mean slope extracted from DEMs of different resolutions in the Loess Plateau of China. Six typical geomorphologic areas are selected as test areas, representing different terrain types from smooth to rough. Their DEMs are produced from digitizing contours of 1:10,000 scale topographic maps. Field survey results show that 5 m should be the most suitable grid size for representing slope in the Loess Plateau area. Comparative and math-simulation methodology was employed for data processing and analysis. A linear correlativity between mean slope and DEM resolution was found at all test areas, but their regression coefficients related closely with the terrain complexity of the test areas. If taking stream channel density to represent terrain complexity, mean slope error could be regressed against DEM resolution (X) and stream channel density (S) at 8 resolution levels and expressed as (0.00158+0.031S-0.0325)X-0.0045S2-0.155S+0.1625, with a R2 value of over 0.98. Practical tests also show an effective result of this model in applications. The new development methodology applied in this study should be helpful to similar researches in spatial data uncertainty investigation.

RESEARCH ON SYSTEM OF FLOOD DISASTER CONTROL AND REDUCTION SUPPORTED BY GIS IN MEDIUM AND SMALL BASINS

Southeast China coastal areas belong to subtropical monsoon climatic zone, thus easily affected by floods resulted from typhoons and rainstorms. Since the areas of river basins are small, rivers flood regulation capacities are low, and therefore flood hazard is grave. In this paper, taking the Yongjiang basin in southeast China as an example, the approaches and methods of geographic information system(GIS) applied to flood disaster control and reduction research on small basin are explored. On GIS help the rainfall runoff calculation model and the river channel flood routing model are developed. And the evaluating flood submerged area and the damage assessment models are built supported by digit elevation models. Lastly the decision support system on GIS supported for flood control in research basin has been set up. This greatly improves flood proofing decision making capacities in river basin, and provides valuable information and a mode for flood prevention and reduction in the medium and small basin. Meanwhile, the research indicates that technologies of GIS provide a powerful tool for flood disaster control.

Pollen evidence of early human activities in Erhai basin,Yunnan Province

The evidence of human activities around Erhai Lake catchment was revealed by pollen records from a sedi- ment core in the lake, northwest Yunnan Province. The 14 chronologic sequence based on AMS C data made it possi- ble for pollen results to compare with archaeological records and historical documents. The preliminary deforestation started from the selective clearance at about 5500 C a BP, 14 marked by the loss of vertically distributed montane forest and the expansion of second pine woodland across the catchment. The deforestation resulted in the increase of sur- face runoff and the enhanced erosion in the catchment. The increased herbs of pasture and crop suggested the primitive agriculture and stockbreeding in study region. With the lim- ited human activity, as well as the suitable climatic condition, second pine forest expanded quickly, resulting in the weak- ened soil erosion around the basin. The strong forest clear- ance inferred from pollen occurred since 2160 C a BP, par- 14 alleling to the first dense immigration of population, when Yeyu County was first set up around west coast of Erhai Lake, documented in historic record. The development of agriculture led to the steady enhancement of soil erosion from farming land, increasing the input of fine materials and nutrients to the lake. Moreover, the serious deforestation by human activity stressed the vulnerability in ecosystem of the landscape. The time of primary anthropologic impact re- corded from pollen is earlier than that of the oldest archaeo- logical record by 1500 a (14C year).