Evaluation of various image fusion techniques and imaging scales for forest features interpretation

The paper presents an objective evaluation of three image fusion techniques for interpretation of forest features in Pathri Reserve Forest, Hardwar. T he three fusion techniques based on principal component substitution (PCs), intensity-hue-saturation transformation (IHS) and Brovey's transformation were performed. The merged images were evaluated on three different scales, i.e. 1 : 50,000, 1 : 25,000 and 1 : 12,500. It was observed that PCs metho d of fusion presented the most suitable output, followed by Brovey's and IH S, respectively. Further, it was also observed that output from the PCs met hod contained better information for discrimination of forest stand types. For interpretation of non-forest areas, i.e. grassland, agriculture, water bodies, IHS-based fusion was adjudged to be the best overall and maximum at the scale of 1 : 12,500. The study demonstrates higher capability of merge d IRS LISS-III and PAN data products for differentiation and mapping of for est stands.