Comparison of satellite platform for mapping the distribution of Mauritius thorn (Caesalpinia decapetala) and River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve

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Authors

Dondofema, Farai
Nethengwe, Nthaduleni Samuel
Taylor, Peter
Ramoelo, Abel

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

MDPI

Abstract

Mapping and tracking invasive alien plant species (IAPS) and their invasiveness can be achieved using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Continuous monitoring using RS, GIS and modelling are fundamental tools for informing invasion and management strategies. Using systematic comparisons, we look at three remote sensing imagery platforms and how accurately they can be classified within the Vhembe biosphere reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Supervised classification of National Geospatial Information Colour Digital Aerial Imagery, DigitalGlobe Worldview 2 and CNES SPOT 6 was performed. The Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm was used to identify the best satellite for species-level classification. The accuracy of the classifications produced an overall accuracy (OA) of 71% with a Kappa coefficient (KC) of 0.76 for CDA photographs, an OA of 81% and a KC of 0.80 for Worldview 2, and an OA of 89% with a KC of 0.86 for SPOT 6 imagery. Therefore, SPOT 6 imagery came out as the most suitable for species-level classification. The classification results from the SPOT 6 imagery were used as input data for further species distribution modelling of Mauritius Thorn and River Red Gum in the VBR.

Description

DATA AVAILABITY STATEMENT: The datasets generated and analysed during this study are not publicly available as they are part of a more extensive study that is currently ongoing but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Keywords

Classification, Remote sensing, Producer accuracy, User accuracy, Overall accuracy, Kappa coefficient, Geographic information system (GIS), SDG-15: Life on land, SDG-13: Climate action, Mauritius thorn (Caesalpinia decapetala), River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Vhembe Biosphere Reserve (VBR), Invasive alien plant species (IAPS)

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG-13:Climate action
SDG-15:Life on land

Citation

Dondofema, F.; Nethengwe, N.; Taylor, P.; Ramoelo, A. Comparison of Satellite Platform for Mapping the Distribution of Mauritius Thorn (Caesalpinia decapetala) and River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. Remote Sens. 2023, 15, 2753. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112753.