Forest type identification by random forest classification combined with SPOT and multitemporal SAR data

Journal of Forestry Research volume 29, pages1407–1414(2018)Cite this article

Abstract

We developed a forest type classification technology for the Daxing′an Mountains of northeast China using multisource remote sensing data. A SPOT-5 image and two temporal images of RADARSAT-2 full-polarization SAR were used to identify forest types in the Pangu Forest Farm of the Daxing′an Mountains. Forest types were identified using random forest (RF) classification with the following data combination types: SPOT-5 alone, SPOT-5 and SAR images in August or November, and SPOT-5 and two temporal SAR images. We identified many forest types using a combination of multitemporal SAR and SPOT-5 images, including Betula platyphylla, Larix gmelinii, Pinus sylvestris and Picea koraiensis forests. The accuracy of classification exceeded 88% and improved by 12% when compared to the classification results obtained using SPOT data alone. RF classification using a combination of multisource remote sensing data improved classification accuracy compared to that achieved using single-source remote sensing data.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Yu, Mingze Li & Yu Fu

Authors
  1. Ying Yu
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  2. Mingze Li
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  3. Yu Fu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mingze Li.

Additional information

Project funding: The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31500518, 31500519, and 31470640).

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Corresponding editor: Tao Xu.

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Yu, Y., Li, M. & Fu, Y. Forest type identification by random forest classification combined with SPOT and multitemporal SAR data. J. For. Res. 29, 1407–1414 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0530-4

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Keywords

  • Random forest classification
  • Multitemporal
  • Multisource remote sensing data
  • Polarization decomposition