The aim of this paper is to investigate how optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data can be combined in an integrated multi-source framework to identify burned areas at the regional scale. The proposed approach is based on the use of fuzzy sets theory and a region-growing algorithm. Landsat TM and (C-band) ENVISAT Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) images acquired for the year 2003 have been processed to extract burned area maps over Portugal. Pre-post fire SAR backscatter temporal difference has been integrated with optical spectral indices to the aim of reducing confusion between burned areas and low-albedo surfaces. The output fuzzy score maps have been compared with reference fire perimeters provided by the Fire Atlas of Portugal. Results show that commission and omission errors in the output burned area maps are a function of the threshold applied to the fuzzy score maps; between the two extremes of the greatest producer’s accuracy (omission error < 10%) and user’s accuracy (commission error < 5%), an intermediate threshold value provides errors of about 20% over the study area. The integration of SAR backscatter allowed reducing local commission errors from 65.4% (using optical data, only) to 11.4%, showing to significantly mitigate local errors due to the presence of cloud shadows and wetland areas. Overall, the proposed method is flexible and open to further developments; also in the perspective of the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel missions operationally providing SAR and optical datasets.
Integration of Optical and SAR Data for Burned Area Mapping in Mediterranean Regions
D. Stroppiana,R. Azar,F. Calò,A. Pepe,Pasquale Imperatore,M. Boschetti,João M. N. Silva,P. Brivio,R. Lanari
Published 2015 in Remote Sensing
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2015
- Venue
Remote Sensing
- Publication date
2015-01-26
- Fields of study
Geology, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- burned area mapping
The delineation of fire-affected regions from satellite imagery in the study area.
Aliases: burned-area mapping, burned area maps
- commission and omission errors
Accuracy metrics that measure false burned-area detections and missed burned-area detections, respectively.
Aliases: commission error, omission error
- fuzzy score maps
Spatial maps of fuzzy membership scores produced by the integration and classification workflow.
Aliases: fuzzy output maps, score maps
- fuzzy sets theory
A framework that represents class membership with graded values for combining multiple evidence layers.
Aliases: fuzzy set theory, fuzzy logic
- optical spectral indices
Indices derived from optical satellite bands that summarize reflectance patterns relevant to fire detection.
Aliases: spectral indices, optical indices
- region-growing algorithm
A segmentation procedure that expands labeled regions from seed pixels according to similarity criteria.
Aliases: region growing
- sar backscatter temporal difference
The pre-fire minus post-fire change in SAR backscatter used as a change-detection input layer.
Aliases: temporal difference in SAR backscatter, SAR backscatter change
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