Forest disturbance assessment with Landsat data in Middle Volga region

摘要

The study presents the results of multistage of classification using supervised algorithm of Maximum Likelihood toassessment the forest using of multitemporal Landsat (summer-autumn) images for mapping cover disturbance in MiddleVolga region. Analysis of the degree of forest cover disturbance was determined based on by biotic (fires, thematic mapof the state of forest cover) and complex factors (forest disturbance map using the Disturbance Index) for 1985-2014.Calculation of the influence degree (“weight index”) of each factor on the disturbance of forest cover was made. Theintegrated disturbance map was obtained based on a bivariate statistical analysis of raster data. The algorithm ofgeospatial analysis of thematic raster data allowed determining the degree of correlation between the indicators of therevealed violations of forest cover in the Middle Volga region and various factors affecting these violations. Forclassification and validation of thematic maps of forest cover disturbance was used test sites with independent field datafor each satellite Landsat image of middle spatial resolution. Cross-validated overall accuracies, ranged between 81-87%,showed high degree of agreement between the forest cover disturbance map and the ground truth data. Research resultscan be applied for the long term forest monitoring and development of forest management plan for the investigatedregion.