Capability investigation the different spatial resolution satellites with emphasis on spectral indices for separation of planted pure stands

Abstract
Collection of information on the status and distribution of vegetation, is costly and time consuming trough conventional methods. Using of satellite data is considered as a potential way. The objective of this study was capability investigation the different spatial resolution satellites with emphasis on spectral indexes for separation of species of planted pure stands in district 1 of Shastkolate forests in Gorgan. In this study satellite imagery of Quickbird, ASTER and Landsat TM was used. The geometric and atmospheric corrections were implemented on the images and 20 spectral vegetation indexes were created using images. The 80 points in ten pure and dense coniferous and deciduous stands were recorded with GPS. The vegetation spectral indices were extracted in sample plots for each pure stand and were statistically analyzed. The results for the best indexes in separation of all species showed that brightness and greenness indices in Quickbird data, wetness (VNIR) and DVI indices in ASTER data and GNDVI index in TM data could identify and differentiate more species compare to other indices. For separation of coniferous species, the brightness and greenness (VNIR) indices in ASTER data showed the best separation results. For separation of deciduous species, the greenness index in Quickbird data, wetness (VNIR) and DVI indices in ASTER data and GNDVI, MSI and II indices in TM data showed the best separability and are introduced as the best indices.