Examining Longleaf Pine spectral properties to remotely map relict stands in Central North Carolina

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Keith Edgar Watkins (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Paul Knapp

Abstract: This thesis has been prepared as a manuscript for submission and potential publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal. This thesis investigates the unique spectral reflectance properties of 109 “montane” longleaf pine canopies (Pinus palustris Mill.) growing on steep, south-facing slopes as well as 51 “piedmont” individuals growing in an area of low topographic relief, all found within the Uwharrie National Forest in central North Carolina. The geographic location of all sampled longleaf canopies were recorded on a digital map, and then spectrally analyzed to derive unique reflectance signatures that would allow for the remote mapping of the species using high-resolution multispectral WorldView-2 satellite imagery. Overall accuracies for classification procedures range from 91–96% between four study sites. Longleaf pine spectral properties were statistically investigated to quantify differences in reflectance due to topography and canopy height. Significant relationships (p <0.05) were found for each variable, and suggest that spectral reflectance values for longleaf pine are not uniform throughout the study area and can vary according to topographic and morphological canopy features.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2017
Keywords
Longleaf Pine, Montane, Object-Based Image Classification, Remote Sensing, Species Mapping, Spectral Reflectance
Subjects
Longleaf pine $z North Carolina
Spectral reflectance
Remote sensing

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