An inductive approach to remote sensing in forestry

Abstract

A rationale for using inductive methodology in remote sensing applied to monitoring of forest resources is given. The approach is tested using a Landsat TM scene of a part of eastern Norway. The image is classified using cluster analysis and the result of the classification is evaluated using Mahalanobis distances. Problems related to the use of statistical verification, Mahalanobis distances in particular, is discussed. A summary of the results with regard to practical applications is given at the end of the article.

Key words:

• remote sensing in forestry
• cluster analysis
• Mahalanobis distance
• inductive methods