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An object based approach for the implementation of forest legislation in Greece using very high resolution satellite data

  • Chapter
Object-Based Image Analysis

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography ((LNGC))

Abstract

The possibility to extract forest areas according to the criteria included in a legal forest definition was evaluated, in a mountainous area in the Northern-central part of Greece, following an object based image analysis approach. While a lot of studies have focused on the estimation of forest cover at regional scale, no particular emphasis has been given so far to the delineation of forest boundary line at local scale.

The study area presents heterogeneity and it is occupied by deciduous and evergreen forest species, shrublands and grasslands. One level of fine scale objects was generated through the Fractal Net Evolution Approach (FNEA) from Quickbird data. Logistic regression statistical analysis was used to predict the existence or not of tree canopy for each image object. The classified objects were subject to a second classification process using class and hierarchy related information to quantify the criteria of the Greek Forest law. In addition, the usefulness of a fusion procedure of the multispectral with the panchromatic component of the Quickbird image was evaluated for the delineation of forest cover maps.

Logistic regression classification of the original multispectral image proved to be the best method in terms of absolute accuracy reaching around 85% but the comparison of the accuracy results based on the Z statistic indicated that the difference between the original and the fused image was non-significant. Overall the object based classification approach followed in our study, seems to be promising in order to discriminate in a more operational manner and with decreased subjectivity the extent of forest areas according to forest legal definitions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Forestry and Natural Environment Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

    G. Mallinis, D. Karamanolis, M. Karteris & I. Gitas

Authors
  1. G. Mallinis
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  2. D. Karamanolis
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  3. M. Karteris
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  4. I. Gitas
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Salzburg Zentrum für Geoinformatik, Hellbrunner Str. 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

    Thomas Blaschke (Prof.) (Prof.)

  2. Universität Salzburg Zentrum für Geoinformatik, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

    Stefan Lang (Dr.) (Dr.)

  3. Foothills Facility for Remote Sensing & GIScience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Earth Sciences Bldg., Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada

    Geoffrey J. Hay (Dr.) (Dr.)

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Mallinis, G., Karamanolis, D., Karteris, M., Gitas, I. (2008). An object based approach for the implementation of forest legislation in Greece using very high resolution satellite data. In: Blaschke, T., Lang, S., Hay, G.J. (eds) Object-Based Image Analysis. Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77058-9_17

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