Eco-environmental research on the Wenchuan Earthquake area using Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) Beijing-1 small satellite images

Abstract

This paper introduces Beijing-1 and its applications in researching the eco-environment after the Wenchuan Earthquake on 12 May 2008. The land use/cover types of a study area close to the epicentre of the earthquake, taken before and after the earthquake, were classified using Beijing-1 small satellite multispectral images. Based on the land use/cover change, several eco-environmental problems were studied, including biotope change, vegetation cover change, hydro-ecology change and land degradation. The eco-environmental status change was also evaluated. The conclusion is that the Wenchuan Earthquake affected the land use/cover and eco-environment of the research area acutely, and the eco-environmental status change was observable. Habitats have become fragmented. The vegetation has been greatly destroyed. The dammed lakes which were produced were threatening to cause floods in the downriver region. The land degradation was obvious and there was a large decrease in the Eco-environmental Index (EI).