Species-level classification of mangrove forest using AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral imagery

• Published in: Remote sensing letters Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 522 - 533
• Main Authors: Paramanik, Somnath, Deep, Nikhil Raj, Behera, Mukunda Dev, Bhattacharya, Bimal Kumar, Dash, Jadunandan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 04.05.2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Absorption; absorption band depth; Absorption spectra; Accuracy; Airborne sensing; Avicennia officinalis; AVIRIS; Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary; Classification; continuum removal; Excoecaria agallocha; Geographical distribution; Heritiera fomes; Hyperspectral imaging; Image classification; Imaging spectrometers; Independent variables; Infrared imaging; Infrared spectrometers; Mangrove swamps; Mangroves; Random Forest; Rehabilitation; Spatial discrimination; Spatial resolution; Species; Species classification; spectral signature; Water absorption; Wavelengths
• ISSN: 2150-704X; 2150-7058
• DOI: 10.1080/2150704X.2023.2215945

Species-level classification of mangroves provides important inputs for conservation, rehabilitation and understanding of ecosystem functions. The hyperspectral sensor, Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer-New Generation (AVIRIS-NG), holds promises for species-level discrimination by virtue of its coverage across a wider spectrum at very high spatial resolution. Using the continuum removal (CR) technique and absorption band depth (ABD), this study applied Random Forest (RF) model to classify the distribution of three species (Heritiera fomes, Excoecaria agallocha and Avicennia officinalis) and two of their combinations (Heritiera fomes-Excoecaria agallocha and Avicennia officinalis-Excoecaria agallocha). The classified map demonstrated good accuracy (overall accuracy = 88%; kappa coefficient = 0.84) using ABD as an independent variable. The important wavelengths (972, 1172, 1177 nm) identified for mangrove species discrimination correspond to water absorption bands. This characteristic may be replicated for species-level classification of other mangrove forests with similar species.