Seasonal differences assist in mapping granite outcrops using Landsat TM imagery across the Southwest Australian Floristic Region

Knowledge of the location and extent of granite outcrops (GOs) in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region is important to understand their role as refugia. We present a methodology to map GOs using biannual Landsat TM imagery. An adaptive vegetation cover mask capitalising on seasonal differences,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of spatial science 2015-01, Vol.60 (1), p.37-49
Main Authors: Alibegovic, G., Schut, A.G.T., Wardell-Johnson, G.W., Robinson, T.P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
band ratios
biodiversity
climate-change
cover
granite outcrops
habitat refuges
Landsat TM
machine learning algorithms
reflection radiometer aster
refugia
spaceborne thermal emission
vegetation
vegetation indices
western-australia
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Summary:Knowledge of the location and extent of granite outcrops (GOs) in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region is important to understand their role as refugia. We present a methodology to map GOs using biannual Landsat TM imagery. An adaptive vegetation cover mask capitalising on seasonal differences, combined with a supervised classification, allowed differentiation of granite from other land covers on five GOs across the rainfall gradient. This methodology provided high classification accuracy (Overall Kappa ranged from 0.83 to 0.91) irrespective of location. Therefore, there is potential to use these methods to compile a more complete GO inventory over the region.
ISSN:1449-8596
1836-5655
DOI:10.1080/14498596.2014.952253