For forest type maps three attributes of forest stands need differentiation, tree size, density, and regional type or species composition. Landstat TM and digital elevation data are the basis of the forest-type mapping procedures. An image segmentation algorithm defines forest stands on the basis of spectral and texture data. Per-pixel classification procedures produce a general land cover classification,of which the category forest is only one class. The most frequently occurring land cover class in each stand determines the label for that stand.
Models based on terrain relationships predict the regional type for each stand.
The final forest type map is a combination of the general land cover map, the canopy model results, and the predicted regional type. MA 02215 Back to Publications.