Spectral and visual analysis of vegetation and land use with Landsat ETM+ images assested by digital aerial photography, of the Chichinautzin Biological Corridor, Morelos, Mexico

• Main Authors: José López García, Álvaro Vega Guzmán, Lilia de Lourdes Manzo Delgado
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2009-10-01
• Series: Investigaciones Geográficas
• Subjects: Ichinautzin; percepción remota; clasificación visual; vegetación; uso del suelo
• Online Access: http://www.investigacionesgeograficas.unam.mx/index.php/rig/article/view/17990

A vegetation and land use map was created through both visual and digital interpretation, of Landsat ETM+ images (March 21st, 2000), of the Chichinautzin Biological Corridor (States of Morelos and Mexico). The Corridor comprises the Chichinautzin Flora and Fauna Protection Area, as well as the Tepozteco and Lagunas de Zempoala National Parks. A supervised classification was validated by field sampling as well as by interpretation of digital aerial photographs (two meters per pixel) taken on November 2000. The accuracy of the visual interpretation was determined using a confusion matrix which compares the resulting land use and vegetation classes, with new reference points obtained from digital aerial photographs printed at 1:10 000 and field work. Since the process of visual interpretation of satellite imagery incorporates reference elements and criteria that are inherent to the knowledge and capabilities of the interpreter, it is advisable to perform such a visual interpretation, supported by digital aerial photographs, following an automated classification, because this reduces the error margin and thus enhances the accuracy and reliability of the products.