Image-based vegetation analysis of desertified area by using a combination of ImageJ and Photoshop software

Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) is a crucial indicator to estimate degradation and desertification for grasslands. However, traditional small-scale FVC analysis methods, such as visual estimation and point-sampling, are cumbersome and imprecise. Innovative methods like image-based FVC analysis met...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2024-03, Vol.196 (3), p.306-306, Article 306
Main Authors: Tong, Jin, Wu, Longying, Li, Bin, Jiang, Nan, Huang, Jin, Wu, Di, Zhou, Lihong, Yang, Qingwen, Jiao, Yuan, Chen, Ji, Zhao, Ke, Pei, Xiangjun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Desertification
Digital imaging
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring
Error analysis
Grasslands
Image processing
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Methods
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Photography
Plant cover
Remote sensing
Smartphones
Software
Vegetation
Vegetation cover
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Summary:Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) is a crucial indicator to estimate degradation and desertification for grasslands. However, traditional small-scale FVC analysis methods, such as visual estimation and point-sampling, are cumbersome and imprecise. Innovative methods like image-based FVC analysis methods, while accurate, face challenges such as complex analytical procedures and the necessary training for operations. Therefore, in this study, a combined application of ImageJ and Photoshop was employed to achieve a more effective analysis of FVC values in desertification areas. Our results showed that the FVC results obtained by combination of Photoshop and ImageJ were dependable and precise ( R 2  > 0.98), demonstrating equivalency to results obtained through either visual estimation or Photoshop-based methods. Furthermore, even in the face of background interference and varied shooting angles, the combination of ImageJ and Photoshop software was still able to maintain a low error rate when analyzing FVC values (average error rate =  − 2.6%). In conclusion, the imaged-based combined FVC analysis method employed in our research was an effective, precise, and efficient technique for analyzing small-scale FVC, promising substantial improvement over conventional methods.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-024-12479-4