Structural change detection in a disturbed conifer forest using a geometric optical reflectance model in multiple-forward mode

Abstract

Geometric optical reflectance models provide a physical linkage between image data and forest structure. We developed a "multiple-forward-mode" pseudoinversion modeling approach to produce structural lookup tables for Landsat Thematic Mapper images before and after 1993 partial harvests in New Brunswick, Canada. Modeling results validated for stand density, crown radius, and stem counts enabled simple forest structural change detection.