TROPICAL VEGETATION MAPPING WITH COMBINED VISIBLE AND SAR SPACEBORNE DATA

Within the tropics, due to high cloud cover, vegetation monitoring can only be achieved by using both visible and microwave spaceborne data. In the present study, Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B) data and SPOT dat a acquired over central Sumatra are used in a supervised classificatio n of vegetation. Emphasis is put on SAR data utilization. Assessment o f SAR data potentialities is carried out by using (1) SIR-B imagery al one, and (2) combined SIR-B and SPOT data. The article describes the m ethodology developed for exploiting the SIR-B image including raw data analysis, image filtering and image classification. Finally, combined filtered SIR-B imagery and SPOT data are used jointly in a supervised classification leading to a better discrimination of surface units. T hese results indicate the unique capabilities of combined visible and SAR data for monitoring tropical vegetation, especially for forest/non -forest discrimination.