Using ALOS/PALSAR and RADARSAT-2 to Map Land Cover and Seasonal Inundation in the Brazilian Pantanal

Teresa Evans (tevans@uvic.ca), Maycira Costa (maycira@uvic.ca)University of Victoria, Department of Geography, SPECTRAL Laboratory

Study Area – The Brazilian Pantanal

Importance, threats…

Radar Backscatter Variability

HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION STRATEGY

Multiresolution Segmentation

using ALOS Feb and July, RSAT

HH/HV

Multiple hierarchical

classification rules determined based on objects values

and backscattering variability

Level 1

Level 2Open Water

Aquatic Vegetation

Savanna

Forest

Multiresolution Segmentation -

single date ALOS imagery

> -5dB Flooded Forest

< -5dBNon-Flooded Forest

Grassland/Agriculture

< -18dB Flooded Grassland/Agriculture

> -18dB

Non-Flooded Grassland/Agriculture

Jan-07 Feb-07 May-07 Jul-07 Aug-08 Nov-07100m 100m 100m 100m 50m 100m

HH HH HH HH HH/HV HHL-band L-band L-band L-band C-band L-band

Level 1

Overall Accuracy ~ 81%

Highest degree of confusion between Savanna class and both Forest, and Grasslands/Agriculture due the high degree of cross-over between classes

Level 2The first temporal flood distribution data of the entire Pantanal over one hydrological cycle

Current research...(new and improved!)

Jan-07 Feb-07Feb/Mar-

08 Apr-09 May-07 Jul-07Aug/Sept-

08 Aug-08 Aug-09 Oct-07 Nov-07100m 100m 50m 100m 100m 100m 50m 50m 100m 100m 100m

HH HH HH HH HH HH HH HH/HV HH HH HHL-band L-band L-band L-band L-band L-band L-band C-band L-band L-band L-band

Fine spatial resolution 12.5m L and C-band dual-season for Nhecolândia sub-region;

Additional dates and addition of dual-season 50m for coarse resolution Pantanal flood analysis for 100m

Will be used for:1) ongoing local habitat studies in the region (marsh deer, jaguar)2) Baseline data for monitoring3) Important information to aid in defining conservation areas

Acknowledgements

SAR Imagery Ancillary Data

FUNDING!

FOR MORE INFORMATION…Contact me (Teresa Evans)

email: tevans@uvic.ca

Or visit my website:http://mapping.uvic.ca/spectral/our_people/t_evans

Questions?