Remote sensing applications for monitoring rangeland vegetation

Abstract

Remote sensing techniques hold considerable promise for the inventory and monitoring of natural resources on range‐lands. A significant lack of information concerning basic spectral characteristics of range vegetation and soils has resulted in a lack of rangeland applications. To use remote sensing technology for measuring vegetation and soil changes on rangelands, certain things must be accomplished. First, the spectral characteristics of scene components must be determined for the various vegetation types. Second, determinations must be made of the appropriate kinds of remotely sensed data that should be used for the task. And finally, procedures must be outlined for acquiring the remotely sensed data that will measure changes in the range vegetation and soils. The interpretation of the remotely sensed data for such monitoring purposes will depend upon the use of various vegetation indices, pixel modelling and appropriate statistical tests. The parameters of interest for range condition must be identified and a means of measuring them either directly or indirectly developed. The paper describes an approach to the use of remotely sensed data to accomplish rangeland monitoring.

Afstandswaarnemingstegnieke hou aansienlike belofte in vir die inventaris en monitering van natuurlike hulpbronne op veldweidings. ‘n Betekenisvolle gebrek aan inligting oor basiese spektrale eienskappe van veldplantegroei en grond het tot ‘n gebrek aan toepassings op veldweidings gelei. Ten einde afstandswaarnemingstegnologie te gebruik om verandering in plantegroei en gronde op veldweidings te meet, is sekere stappe noodsaaklik. Eerstens moet die spektrale eienskappe van beeldkomponente vir die verskillende plantegroeitipes vasgestel word. Tweedens moet bepaal word welke tipes afstandswaarnemingsdata geskik is vir die taak. En dan moet die riglynprosedures neergelê word vir die inwin van die afstandswaarnemingsdata wat veranderings in veldplantegroei en gronde sal meet. Die interpretasie van die waargenome data vir sulke moniteringsdoeleindes sal afhang van die gebruik van verskeie plantegroei‐indekse, pixel‐modellering en toepaslike statistiese toetse. Die parameters van belang vir veldtoestand moet uitgewys word en ‘n direkte of indirekte metode om hulle te meet, moet ontwikkel word. Hierdie artikel beskryf ‘n benadering tot die gebruik van afstandswaarnemingsdata vir veldmonitering.

Additional index words:

• Pixel modelling
• range condition
• spectral characteristics