Estimation of Canopy Cover in Forest Using KOMPSAT-2 Satellite Images

Crown density, which is defined as the proportion of the forest floor concealed by tree crown, is important and useful information in various fields. Previous methods of measuring crown density have estimated crown density by interpreting aerial photographs or through a ground survey. These are time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive and inconsistent approaches, as they involve a great deal of subjectivity and rely on the experience of the interpreter. In this study, the crown density of a forest in Korea was estimated using KOMPSAT-2 high-resolution satellite images. Using the image segmentation technique and stand information of the digital forest map, the forest area was divided into zones. The crown density for each segment was determined using the discriminant analysis method and the forest ratio method. The results showed that the accuracy of the discriminant analysis method was about 60%, while the accuracy of the forest ratio method was about 85%. The probability of extraction of candidate to update was verified by comparing the result with the digital forest map.