Forest biomass estimation using fourier-based textural ordination of high resolution airborne optical image

Accurately assessing biomass of temperate forests from remote sensing observation still remains a great challenge. High resolution optical imageries become more and more widely available from many kinds of space-borne and airborne sensors at reasonable price. These high resolution imageries contain ample texture indices which have already been used in remote sensing classification and forest structure parameter estimation. Fourier-based Textural Ordination (FOTO) method is one of recent technique developed texture indices, which combines Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and principle component analysis (PCA) then derives texture indices. These FOTO texture indices contain canopy grain information in high resolution optical image have successfully predicted forest biomass in some tropical area. Our research performed FOTO method in LiangShui National Nature Reserve, where is a typical representative of the broadleaf mixed coniferous temperate forests, located in Heilongjiang Province, northeast of China. The airborne optical image acquired in September 22th, 2009 were used. Our research showed that texture indices derived based on FOTO method had great potential for forest biomass estimation in temperate zone and the inversion results proved to be accurate predictions.