Title: Methodology to map the spread of an invasive plant (Lantana camara L.) in forest ecosystems using Indian remote sensing satellite data
Abstract: The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate
the utility of different Indian remote sensing sensors for detection, mapping
and patch size estimation of Lantana camara L. (Kurri). The latter, of the
family Verbinaceae, is one of the most aggressive invasive plant species and has
colonized large areas of forest land in the Himalayan foothills (Shiwalik
range). The State Forest Departments of India are planning to develop a suitable
strategy to halt its invasion. The first step in this direction is to have
accurate information on the location and spread of the plant in spatial format.
The test site is part of the forest of the Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand.
Indian Remote Sensing-Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor (IRS-LISS) III
(multi-spectral, 23.5 m), IRS-LISS IV (multi-spectral, 5.8 m), Cartosat-1
(Panchromatic, 2.5 m) and a merged image of LISS IV and Cartosat-1 using Brovey
fusion techniques were used to map Lantana camara L. Further improvement was
obtained using texture analysis. The study demonstrates the potentiality of LISS
IV and Cartosat-1 data for detection and mapping of Lantana camara L. The
results show the feasibility of developing a semi-automated procedure to map and
analyse the distribution of Lantana in forest areas. [M. M. Kimothi & Anitha
Dasari (2010). Methodology to map the spread of an invasive plant (Lantana
camara L.) in forest ecosystems using Indian remote sensing satellite data.
International Journal of Remote Sensing, 31(12),
3273-3289.]