REMOTE SENSING AND VEGETATION DAMAGE: A THEORY FOR DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT

Abstract

This paper discusses the philosophical and technical aspects of remote sensing for vegetation damage assessment. Answers are presented for these questions: (1) What constitutes remote sensing evidence of vegetation damage? (2) How is vegetation damage interpreted from remotely sensed data? and (3) How can the damage be assessed? The answers to these questions are discussed in detail relevant to normal color and color-infrared aerial photography. Consideration is given to details of film reaction to variations in spectral reflectance patterns. Damages showing morphological or physiological changes are discussed relative to spectral reflectance changes and presented as a means to code damage types. An hypothesis for quantitatively monitoring forest damage is presented. /Author/