Tree species discrimination using Z/I DMC imagery and template matching of single trees

Abstract

Early results from automatic tree species discrimination, using the Z/I DMC digital aerial photographic camera are reported. The position of single trees is identified using template matching techniques and spectral data are extracted from the sunlit part of each detected tree crown. The imagery was acquired in mid-October 2003 for a test site in western Sweden. A discriminant analysis based on canopy colour yielded 88.7% overall accuracy when discriminating between Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and deciduous trees. The promising results are of great practical interest since the Swedish National Land Survey has recently acquired a Z/I DMC camera.

Keywords:

• Digital aerial images
• single trees
• species discrimination
• template matching

Acknowledgments

This study was financed by the Heureka research programme, the Carl Trygger Foundation and the Kempe foundation. The field data were financed by the Hildur and Sven Wingquist foundation. We would like to thank the Swedish National Land Survey for information about the Z/I DMC camera and for the acquisition of the imagery. We would also like to thank Björn Nilsson for rectifying the images.