Comparison of ETM+ and MODIS Data for Tropical Forest Degradation Monitoring in the Peninsular Malaysia

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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparison of ETM+ and MODIS Data for Tropical Forest Degradation Monitoring in the Peninsular Malaysia Mazlan Hashim & Amin Beiranvand Pour & Chong Khen Wei

Received: 6 February 2013 / Accepted: 12 August 2013 / Published online: 16 November 2013 # Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2013

Abstract This study was undertaken the use of course and moderate spatial resolution remote sensing data to assess the forest degradation in the Peninsular Malaysia. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery was used as coarse spatial resolution data, while Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ (ETM+) imagery was used as moderate spatial resolution to compare the accuracy. Geometric and radiometric correction and re-sampling were performed in pre-processing to enhance the analysis and results. Canopy fractional cover was used as an approach to assess the forest degradation in this study. Then, an optimum vegetation index was selected to apply on canopy fractional cover to enhance the detection of forest canopy damage. At the same time, accuracy assessment for the approach was referred to the location of Neobalanocarpus Heimii and correlate with global evapotranspiration rate. The forest degradation analysis was also applied and compared for all of the states in the Peninsular Malaysia. In conclusion, Landsat ETM+ imagery obtained higher accuracy compare to MODIS using canopy fractional cover approach for forest degradation assessment, and can be more broadly applicable to use for forest degradation investigation.

M. Hashim : A. B. Pour (*) : C. K. Wei Institute of Geospatial Science & Technology (INSTeG), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia e-mail: [email protected] M. Hashim e-mail: [email protected] M. Hashim e-mail: [email protected] C. K. Wei e-mail: [email protected]

Keywords Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ (ETM+) . Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) . Forest degradation . Canopy fractional cover . Malaysia

Introduction The drastic dynamics of ecosystem and landscape lead to regionally or globally ecology changes associated with possible consequences, including water contamination, species extinction, flood, land slide and global warming (Byg and Salick 2009; Hagerman et al. 2010; Charlton and Arnell 2011; Yonghai et al. 2011; Hagerman et al. 2012). Anthropogenic activities contribute most to the destruction and degradation of natural vegetation. Anthropogenic activities such as construction of roads and dams are intensively altering the ecosystem and landscape of the region. Thus, continuously monitoring and studying vegetation dynamics from time to time are important to control and prevent the all possible consequences from happening. In the century of advancing technology, forestry planning and management has been undergoing a shift from traditional forest measurement technique of field work to remote sensing data beyond aerial photograph and analysis in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This is due to t