A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants

The co-existence of diverse plant forms in densely vegetated savanna environments presents a challenge when mapping species diversity using single remotely sensed data type that carries either optical or structural information. In the present study, Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data...

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Main Authors: Emmanuel Fundisi, Solomon G. Tesfamichael, Fethi Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2022-12-01
Series:European Journal of Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22797254.2022.2083984
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author Emmanuel Fundisi
Solomon G. Tesfamichael
Fethi Ahmed
author_facet Emmanuel Fundisi
Solomon G. Tesfamichael
Fethi Ahmed
author_sort Emmanuel Fundisi
collection DOAJ
description The co-existence of diverse plant forms in densely vegetated savanna environments presents a challenge when mapping species diversity using single remotely sensed data type that carries either optical or structural information. In the present study, Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data were combined to classify morphologically similar woody plant species (n =27) and three coexisting land cover types using Deep Neural Network (DNN). The fused image recorded a higher overall classification accuracy (76%) than the sole use of Sentinel-2 (72%) and Sentinel-1 RADAR data (71%). Slightly more species (15) recorded accuracies exceeding 75% using fused image compared to Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 data (13 species >75%). Analysis of relative band contributions resulted in high importance from Sentinel-1 C-band ratio of VH/VV polarization (8.6%) as well as a select Sentinel-2 bands (Near infrared (9.86%), Shortwave (9.5%), and Vegetation red edge (8%)). Parallel to continual efforts to improve the accuracies of fused RADAR–optical data, the services of such data for regional-scale applications should be explored to inform timely biodiversity assessments.
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spelling doaj-art-bd8aa33aefb546ee9d3affda562512502025-08-20T03:05:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Remote Sensing2279-72542022-12-0155137238710.1080/22797254.2022.2083984A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plantsEmmanuel Fundisi0Solomon G. Tesfamichael1Fethi Ahmed2Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South AfricaDepartment of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South AfricaGeography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaThe co-existence of diverse plant forms in densely vegetated savanna environments presents a challenge when mapping species diversity using single remotely sensed data type that carries either optical or structural information. In the present study, Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data were combined to classify morphologically similar woody plant species (n =27) and three coexisting land cover types using Deep Neural Network (DNN). The fused image recorded a higher overall classification accuracy (76%) than the sole use of Sentinel-2 (72%) and Sentinel-1 RADAR data (71%). Slightly more species (15) recorded accuracies exceeding 75% using fused image compared to Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 data (13 species >75%). Analysis of relative band contributions resulted in high importance from Sentinel-1 C-band ratio of VH/VV polarization (8.6%) as well as a select Sentinel-2 bands (Near infrared (9.86%), Shortwave (9.5%), and Vegetation red edge (8%)). Parallel to continual efforts to improve the accuracies of fused RADAR–optical data, the services of such data for regional-scale applications should be explored to inform timely biodiversity assessments.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22797254.2022.2083984Savannawoody plant species diversitydata fusionSentinel-1 C-bandSentinel-2Deep Neural Network algorithm
spellingShingle Emmanuel Fundisi
Solomon G. Tesfamichael
Fethi Ahmed
A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants
European Journal of Remote Sensing
Savanna
woody plant species diversity
data fusion
Sentinel-1 C-band
Sentinel-2
Deep Neural Network algorithm
title A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants
title_full A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants
title_fullStr A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants
title_full_unstemmed A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants
title_short A combination of Sentinel-1 RADAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants
title_sort combination of sentinel 1 radar and sentinel 2 multispectral data improves classification of morphologically similar savanna woody plants
topic Savanna
woody plant species diversity
data fusion
Sentinel-1 C-band
Sentinel-2
Deep Neural Network algorithm
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22797254.2022.2083984
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