Learn

Videos

Blogs

Events&Webinars

Training

Whitepapers

VegetationAnalysis:UsingVegetationIndicesin
ENVI

CaseStudies

Resource

FEATUREDWHITEPAPER

Wednesday,December18,2013

GeospatialSolutionsintheClou
Introduction

12/2/2014

Theabilitytomeasureelectromagneticenergyatvaryingwavelengthsasitinteractswithamaterialformssome
ofthefoundationbehindremotesensingandspectralscience.Thephysicalcharacteristicsofthematerial
causetheelectromagneticenergytobereflected,refracted,orabsorbedinawaythatisuniquetoeach
material.Theseinteractionsaremeasuredacrossdiscretesectionsofthespectrum,thatwhenplotted,forma
uniqueshapethatisalsoknownasamaterialsspectralsignature.

Geospatialanalyticsallowpeopleto
askquestionsofdatathatexistwith
aspatialcontext.Usually...

Vegetationinteractswithsolarradiationinadifferentwaythanothernaturalmaterials.Thevegetation
spectrum(figure1)typicallyabsorbsintheredandbluewavelengths,reflectsinthegreenwavelength,
stronglyreflectsinthenearinfrared(NIR)wavelength,anddisplaysstrongabsorptionfeaturesinwavelengths
whereatmosphericwaterispresent.Differentplantmaterials,watercontent,pigment,carboncontent,nitrogen
content,andotherpropertiescausefurthervariationacrossthespectrum.Measuringthesevariationsand
studyingtheirrelationshiptooneanothercanprovidemeaningfulinformationaboutplanthealth,watercontent,
environmentalstress,andotherimportantcharacteristics.Theserelationshipsareoftendescribedas
vegetationindices(VIs).

3/20/2013

Figure1
Source:Elowitz,Mark R.WhatisImagingSpectroscopy(HyperspectralImaging)?.RetrievedNovember27,2013,from
www.mark elowitz.com/Hyperspectral.html
SensorConsiderations

Withintheelectromagneticspectrum(figure2),thesolarreflectedopticalspectrumspansawavelengthrange
fromapproximately400nanometers(nm)toapproximately3000nm.Ofthisrange,the400nmto2500nm
regionisroutinelymeasuredusingavarietyofearthobservingsatelliteandairborneopticalsensors.The
opticalspectrumispartitionedintofourdistinctwavelengthranges:
Visible:400nmto700nm(thecolorblueisapproximately475nm,greenisapproximately510nmandredis
approximately650nm)
Nearinfrared(NIR):700nmto1300nm
Shortwaveinfrared1(SWIR1):1300nmto1900nm
Shortwaveinfrared2(SWIR2):1900nmto2500nm

ThetransitionfromNIRtoSWIR1ismarkedbythe1400nmatmosphericwaterabsorptionregioninwhich
satellitesandaircraftcannotacquiremeasurements.Similarly,theSWIR1andSWIR2transitionismarkedby
the1900nmatmosphericwaterabsorptionregion.

CustomizingENVIwithIDL

Combiningthelargearrayof
prepackagedanalyticaltoolsalread
availableinENVIwiththe
programming...more

Figure2
Source:Zami,Zuly.TheElectromagneticSpectrum.RetrievedDecember3,2013,from
www.zulyzami.com/The+Electromagnetic+Spectrum

Theabilityofanopticalsensortoresolvefeatureswithinspecificwavelengthsoftheopticalspectrumandslice
wavelengthsintosmallerincrementsisreferredtoasasensorsspectralresolution.Thespectralresolutionof
asensorcanrangeanywherefromsinglebandblackandwhite(panchromatic)tohyperspectral(figure3).
Imagescapturedbyahyperspectralsensorcancontainhundredsofindividualbands,givinganearcontinuous
readingoftheopticalspectrum.Perhapsthemostcommonandreadilyavailabletypeofremotelysensed
imageryismultispectral,whichtypicallycontainsanywherefrom3to15bandsthathavebeenchosencarefully
alongtheopticalspectrum.Manyyearsofpublishedscientificresearchfocusedonthespectralchanges
experiencedwhenvegetationundergoeschangesincontentofwater,pigments,nutrients,andotherproperties
haveledtotheinclusionofbandsonanumberofearthobservingsatellitesandairbornesensorsthatfocuson
theregionsoftheelectromagneticspectrumthataresensitivetofluctuationsinvegetationproperties.
UnderstandingthespectralresolutionofyourdataiscrucialtoworkingeffectivelywithVegetationIndices,
whichoftenrequiredatafromveryspecificregionsoftheopticalspectrum.

Figure3
VegetationIndicesinENVI

Overtimeandthroughmanyscientificstudies,remotesensingexpertshavecometounderstandhow
combinationsofthemeasuredreflectancepropertiesattwoormorewavelengthsrevealspecificvegetation
characteristics,alsoknownasVIs.Therearemorethan150existingVIs,withadditionalindicesemergingas
sensorsadvanceandprovidenewinformation.ENVIexposes27oftheseindiceswhichwereselectedbased
upontheirrobustness,scientificbasis,andapplicability.These27indicesaredividedintosevencategories
describedasfollows:
BroadbandGreenness
NarrowbandGreenness
LightUseEfficiency
CanopyNitrogen
DryorSenescentCarbon
LeafPigment
CanopyWaterContent

Eachoftheabovelistedcategorieshasoneormoreindexthatisusedtoestimatethepresence(orabsence)
ofaspecificproperty.Theseindicesarediscussedinmoredetailbelow.

BroadbandGreenness

Broadbandgreennessdescribesthevigorandhealthofgreenvegetation.Theyarecombinationsof
reflectancemeasurementsthataresensitivetothecombinedeffectsoffoliagechlorophyllconcentration,
canopyleafarea,foliageclumping,andcanopyarchitecture.TheseVIsaredesignedtoprovideameasureof
theoverallamountandqualityofphotosyntheticmaterialinvegetation,whichisessentialforunderstandingthe
stateofvegetationforanypurpose.FortheseVIs,thestrongreflectivepropertiesintheNIRwavelengthsare
comparedwiththestrongabsorptionfeaturesofvegetationintheredwavelengths.Thesecomparisonsdefine
theNormalizedDifferenceVegetationIndex(NDVI),SimpleRatioIndex,EnhancedVegetationIndex,
AtmosphericallyResistantVegetationIndex,andtheSumGreenIndex.
NormalizedDifferenceVegetationIndex(NDVI):
TheNDVIisperhapsthemostwellknownandoftenusedvegetationindex.TheNDVIisasimple,buteffective
VIforquantifyinggreenvegetation.TheNDVInormalizesgreenleafscatteringinthenearinfraredwavelength
andchlorophyllabsorptionintheredwavelength.
NDVI=(NIRRED)/(NIR+RED)
ThevaluerangeofanNDVIis1to1wherehealthyvegetationgenerallyfallsbetweenvaluesof0.20to0.80.
SimpleRatioIndex(SR):
TheSRisalsowellknownandoftenused.ItisdescribedastheratiooflightthatisscatteredintheNIRrange
tothatwhichisabsorbedintheredrange.
SR=NIR/RED
Therangeofvaluesisfrom0tomorethan30,wherehealthyvegetationgenerallyfallsbetweenvaluesof2to
8.
EnhancedVegetationIndex(EVI):
Inareasofdensecanopywheretheleafareaindex(LAI)ishigh,theNDVIvaluescanbeimprovedby
leveraginginformationinthebluewavelength.Informationinthisportionofthespectrumcanhelpcorrectfor
soilbackgroundsignalsandatmosphericinfluences.
EVI=2.5[(NIRRED)/((NIR)+(6RED)(7.5BLUE)+1)]
TherangeofvaluesfortheEVIis1to1,wherehealthyvegetationgenerallyfallsbetweenvaluesof0.20to
0.80.
AtmosphericallyResistantVegetationIndex(ARVI):
TheARVIisanenhancementtotheNDVIthatisrelativelyresistanttoatmosphericfactorssuchasaerosol.It
worksbyusingreflectancemeasurementsinthebluewavelengthstocorrectforatmosphericscatteringeffects
thatregisterintheredreflectancespectrum.TheARVIismostusefulinregionsofhighatmosphericaerosol
content.
ARVI=((NIR)(2REDBLUE)/(NIR)+(2REDBLUE))
TherangeforanARVIis1to1wheregreenvegetationgenerallyfallsbetweenvaluesof0.20to0.80.
SumGreenIndex(SG):
ThisSGisgenerallyusedtodetectchangesinvegetationgreenness.Thisisusefulindetectingforest
disturbancebecauseitishighlysensitivetosmallchangesinvegetationcanopyopening.
TheSGisthemeanofreflectanceacrossthe500nmto600nmportionofthespectrum.Thissumisthen
normalizedbythenumberofbandstoconvertitbacktounitsofreflectance.Thevalueofthisindexranges
from0tomorethan50(inunitsof%reflectance).Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis10to25percent
reflectance.
NarrowbandGreenness

SimilartothebroadbandgreennessVIs,narrowbandgreennessVIsaredesignedtoprovideameasureofthe
overallamountandqualityofphotosyntheticmaterialinvegetation.TheseVIsusereflectancemeasurements
intheredandnearinfraredregionstosampletherededgeportionofthereflectancecurve.Therededgeisa
nameusedtodescribethesteeplyslopedregionofthevegetationreflectancecurvebetween690nmand
740nmthatiscausedbythetransitionfromchlorophyllabsorptionandnearinfraredleafscattering.Useof
nearinfraredmeasurements,withmuchgreaterpenetrationdepththroughthecanopythanred
measurements,allowsestimationofthetotalamountofgreenmaterialinthecolumn.Narrowbandgreenness
VIsaremoresophisticatedmeasuresofgeneralquantityandvigorofgreenvegetationthanthebroadband
greennessVIs.Makingnarrowbandmeasurementsintherededgeallowstheseindicestobemoresensitiveto
smallerchangesinvegetationhealththanthebroadbandgreennessVIs,particularlyinconditionsofdense
vegetationwherethebroadbandmeasurescansaturate.NarrowbandgreennessVIsareintendedforusewith
highspectralresolutionimagery,suchasthatacquiredbyhyperspectralsensors.
RedEdgeNormalizedDifferenceVegetationIndex(NDVI705):
TheNDVI705isamodificationofthebroadbandNDVI.Itisintendedforusewithveryhighspectralresolution
reflectancedata,suchasdatafromhyperspectralsensors.TheNDVI705differsfromtheNDVIbyusingbands
alongtherededge,insteadofthemainabsorptionandreflectancepeaks.TheNDVI705capitalizesonthe
sensitivityofthevegetationrededgetosmallchangesincanopyfoliagecontent,gapfraction,and
senescence.Applicationsincludeprecisionagriculture,forestmonitoring,andvegetationstressdetection.
NDVI705=(750nm705nm)/(750nm+705nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom1to1.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisbetweenvaluesof0.2
to0.9.
ModifiedRedEdgeSimpleRatioIndex(mSR705):
ThemSR705isamodificationofthetraditionalbroadbandSR.ItdiffersfromthestandardSRbecauseituses
bandsintherededgeandincorporatesacorrectionforleafspecularreflection.Applicationsincludeprecision
agriculture,forestmonitoring,andstressedvegetationdetection.
mSR705=(750nm445nm)/(705nm445nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0to30.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisbetweenvaluesof2to
8.
ModifiedRedEdgeNormalizedDifferenceVegetationIndex(mNDVI705):
ThemNDVI705isamodificationoftheNDVI705.ItdiffersfromtheNDVI705byincorporatingacorrectionfor
leafspecularreflection.ThemNDVI705capitalizesonsensitivityofthevegetationrededgetosmallchangesin
canopyfoliagecontent,gapfraction,andsenescence.Applicationsincludeprecisionagriculture,forest
monitoring,andvegetationstressdetection.
mNDVI705=(750nm705nm)/(750nm+705nm(2*445nm))
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom1to1,withthecommonrangeforgreenvegetationfallingbetween0.2
and0.7.

VogelmannRedEdgeIndex1(VOG1):
TheVOG1isanarrowbandreflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetothecombinedeffectsoffoliage
chlorophyllconcentration,canopyleafarea,andwatercontent.Applicationsincludevegetationphenology
(growth)studies,precisionagriculture,andvegetationproductivitymodeling.
VOG1=740nm/720nm
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0to20.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisfrom4to8.
VogelmannRedEdgeIndex2(VOG2):
TheVOG2isanarrowbandreflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetothecombinedeffectsoffoliage
chlorophyllconcentration,canopyleafarea,andwatercontent.Applicationsincludevegetationphenology
studies,precisionagriculture,andvegetationproductivitymodeling.
VOG2=(734nm747nm)/(715nm+726nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0to20.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisfrom4to8.
VogelmannRedEdgeIndex3(VOG3):
TheVOG3isanarrowbandreflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetothecombinedeffectsoffoliage
chlorophyllconcentration,canopyleafarea,andwatercontent.Applicationsincludevegetationphenology
studies,precisionagriculture,andvegetationproductivitymodeling.
VOG3=(734nm747nm)/(715nm+720nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0to20.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisfrom4to8.
RedEdgePositionIndex(REP):
TheREPisanarrowbandreflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetochangesinchlorophyllconcentration.
Increasedchlorophyllconcentrationbroadenstheabsorptionfeatureandmovestherededgetolonger
wavelengths.Therededgepositionreferstothewavelengthofsteepestslopewithintherangeof690nmto
740nm.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis700nmto730nm.
Resultsrepresentthewavelengthofthemaximumderivativeofreflectanceinthevegetationrededgeregionof
thespectruminmicronsfrom0.69micronsto0.74microns.Applicationsincludecropmonitoringandyield
prediction,ecosystemdisturbancedetection,photosynthesismodeling,andcanopystresscausedbyclimate
andotherfactors.
LightUseEfficiency

Thelightuseefficiencyindicesprovidewaystoquantifyvegetationsabilitytouseincidentlightfor
photosynthesis.Consideringthebroadelectromagneticspectrum,onlyasmallrangeisactuallyutilizedby
plantsduringphotosynthesis.Thisrangehappenstofallwithinthevisibleportionofthespectrum,from400nm
to700nm.Aplantsabilitytoefficientlyabsorbenergywithinthisrangecanbeagoodpredictorofgrowthrate
andbiomassproduction.ENVIincludesthreevegetationindicestomeasurelightuseefficiency:Photochemical
ReflectanceIndex,StructureInsensitivePigmentIndex,andRedGreenRationIndex.
PhotochemicalReflectanceIndex(PRI):
ThePRItakesadvantageofthechangestocarotenoidpigments,specificallythexanthophyllspigments
(yellows)thatareabsorbedbylivefoliage.Thesepigmentssignifyphotosyntheticlightuseefficiencyandare
usefultoquantifyvegetationproductionandstress.Thisindexisparticularusefulformeasuringvegetation
healthpriortosenescence.
PRI=(531nm570nm)/(531nm+570nm)
TherangeforaPRIis1to1,wherehealthyvegetationgenerallyfallsbetweenvaluesof0.2to0.2.
StructureInsensitivePigmentIndex(SIPI):
TheSIPIisagoodindextouseinareaswithhighvariabilityinthecanopystructure,orleafareaindex.This
indexmaximizessensitivitytotheratioofbulkcarotenoidstochlorophyllwhileminimizingtheimpactofthe
variablecanopystructure.
SIPI=(800nm445nm)/(800nm680nm)
TherangeofaSIPIisfrom0to2,wherehealthygreenvegetationisfrom0.8to1.8.
RedGreenRatioIndex(RGRRatio):
Thisindexisareflectancemeasurementusefulformakingfoliagedevelopmentestimations,indicatingleaf
productionandstress,orevenindicatingfloweringinsomecanopies.Theratiomeasurestherelative
expressionofleafrednesscausedbyanthocyanintothatofchlorophyll.
RGRRatio=mean(RED)/mean(GREEN)
Wheremean(RED)representsallbandswithwavelengthsintheredrangeoftheelectromagneticspectrum
andmean(GREEN)representsallbandswithwavelengthsinthegreenrangeoftheelectromagneticspectrum.
TherangeofaRGRRatioisfrom0.1tomorethan8,wherehealthygreenvegetationusuallyfallsbetween
valuesof0.7to3.
Thecanopynitrogenindicesprovideameasureofnitrogenconcentrationinremotelysensedfoliage.Plants
experiencingrapidgrowthgenerallyalsocontainahighconcentrationofnitrogen,whichissensedintheSWIR
wavelength.Highmeasuredreflectanceinthiswavelengthindicatesrelativelylargenitrogenconcentration.
NormalizedDifferenceNitrogenIndex(NDNI):
Highreflectanceat1510nmindicatesbothhighnitrogenconcentrationandoverallbiomassinfoliage.
Conversely,reflectancevaluesat1680nmcontainsimilarsignalduetofoliarbiomasswithouttheinfluenceof
nitrogenabsorption.Thisrelationshipisusedtomeasurethestrongsensitivitytochangingnitrogenstatus
whenthecanopyisgreen.Applicationsincludeprecisionagriculture,ecosystemanalysis,andforest
management.
NDNI=(log11510nm)(log11680nm)/(log11510nm)+(log11680nm)
Thevaluerangesfrom0to1.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis0.02to0.1.
DryorSenescentCarbon

Thedryorsenescentcarbonvegetationindicesexploitcharacteristicsfoundinvegetationcomponentsduring
senescencesuchaschangestoligninandcellulose.Ligninisusedbyplantstomakestructuralcomponents
suchaswoodystems.Celluloseisusedforcellulartissuestructure.Whenvegetationundergoesorisaboutto
undergosenescence,theconcentrationofthesematerialscanincrease.Theseincreasesmakethevegetation
materialhighlyflammablethereforetheseindicesareexcellentforfirefuelanalyses.
NormalizedDifferenceLigninIndex(NDLI):
TheNDLIisdesignedtoestimatetherelativeamountsoflignincontainedinvegetationcanopies.High
reflectanceat1754nmislargelydeterminedbytheligninconcentrationofleaves,aswellastheoverallfoliage
biomassofthecanopy.Reflectanceat1680nmisusedasareference.TheNormalizedDifferenceLigninIndex

ishighlyexperimental.
NDLI=(log11754nm)(log11680nm)/(log11754nm)+(log11680nm)
Thevalueofthisindexrangesfrom0to1.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis0.005to0.05.
CelluloseAbsorptionIndex(CAI):
TheCAIquantifiesexposedsurfacesthatcontaindriedplantmaterial.Strongabsorptionfeaturespresentin
the2000nmto2200nmrangeindicatestrongpresenceofcellulose.Cropresiduemonitoring,plantcanopy
senescence,firefuelconditions,andgrazingmanagementaresomeapplicationsforthisindex.
CAI=0.5(2000nm+2200nm)2100nm
Thevaluerangeofthisindexrangesfrom3tomorethan4.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis2to
4.
PlantSenescenceReflectanceIndex(PSRI):
ThePSRIisdesignedtomaximizesensitivityoftheindextotheratioofbulkcarotenoids(forexample,alpha
caroteneandbetacarotene)tochlorophyll.AnincreaseinPSRIindicatesincreasedcanopystress(carotenoid
pigment),theonsetofcanopysenescence,andplantfruitripening.Applicationsincludevegetationhealth
monitoring,plantphysiologicalstressdetectionandcropproduction,andyieldanalysis.
PSRI=(680nm500nm)/750nm
Forthisindex,valuesrangefrom1to1,withthecommonrangeofvaluesforgreenvegetationbeingbetween
0.1to0.2.
LeafPigment

Theleafpigmentvegetationindicesaredesignedtoprovideameasureofstressrelatedpigmentspresentin
vegetation.Stressrelatedpigmentsincludecarotenoids(yellowpigments)andanthocyanins(pink,purpleand
redpigments),whichtendtobepresentinhigherconcentrationswhenvegetationisinaweakenedstate.
Carotenoidsfunctioninlightabsorptionprocessesinplants,aswellasinprotectingplantsfromtheharmful
effectsofhighlightconditions.Anthocyaninsarewatersolublepigmentsabundantinnewlyformedleavesand
leavesundergoingsenescence.Theleafpigmentvegetationindicesdonotmeasurechlorophyll,whichis
insteadmeasuredusingthegreennessindices.Applicationsforleafpigmentvegetationindicesincludecrop
monitoring,ecosystemstudies,analysesofcanopystress,andprecisionagriculture.
CarotenoidReflectanceIndex1(CRI1):
TheCRI1isareflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetocarotenoidpigmentsinplantfoliage.Estimationof
leafcarotenoidcontentfromreflectanceismuchmoredifficultthanestimationofchlorophyllbecauseofthe
overlapbetweenchlorophyllandcarotenoidabsorptionpeaksandbecauseofthehigherconcentrationof
chlorophyllthancarotenoidinmostleaves.At510nm,thereciprocalreflectanceofcarotenoidismaximal,but
thisvalueisalsoinfluencedbychlorophyll.Toremovetheeffectofchlorophyll,thereciprocalreflectanceat
550nmisused,whichisinfluencedmorepurelybychlorophyllalone.HigherCRI1valuesmeangreater
carotenoidconcentrationrelativetochlorophyll.
CRI1=(1/510nm)(1/550nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0tomorethan15.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisbetween
valuesof1to12.
CarotenoidReflectanceIndex2(CRI2):
TheCRI2isareflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetocarotenoidpigmentsinplantfoliage.TheCRI2isa
modificationofCRI1.Thereciprocalreflectanceat700nmisusedtoremovetheeffectofchlorophyllonthe
reciprocalreflectanceat510nm.Itprovidesbetterresultsinareasofhighcarotenoidconcentration.Higher
CRI2valuesmeangreaterconcentrationofcarotenoidrelativetochlorophyll.
CRI2=(1/510nm)(1/700nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0tomorethan15.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisbetween
valuesof1to11.
AnthocyaninReflectanceIndex1(ARI1):
TheARI1isareflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetoanthocyanininplantfoliage.Thereciprocal
reflectanceofanthocyaninishighestaround550nmhowever,thereciprocalreflectancevalueat550nmis
alsoinfluencedbychlorophyll.Thereciprocalreflectanceat700nmisusedasameasureofchlorophyllcontent
toremovethechlorophyllcontributionfromreflectancearound550nm.IncreasesinARI1indicatechangesin
foliagevianewgrowthordeath.
ARI1=(1/550nm)(1/700nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0tomorethan0.2.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisbetween
valuesof0.001to0.1.
AnthocyaninReflectanceIndex2(ARI2):
TheARI2isareflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetoanthocyaninsinplantfoliage.IncreasesinARI2
indicatecanopychangesinfoliagevianewgrowthordeath.TheARI2isamodificationoftheARI1which
detectshigherconcentrationsofanthocyaninsinvegetation.
ARI2=800nm[(1/550nm)(1/700nm)]
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0to0.2.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis0.001to0.1.
CanopyWaterContent

Thecanopywatercontentvegetationindicesaredesignedtoprovideameasureoftheamountofwater
containedinthefoliagecanopy.Watercontentisanimportantquantityofvegetationbecausehigherwater
contentoftenindicateshealthiervegetationthatislikelytogrowfasterandbemorefireresistant.Canopy
watercontentvegetationindicesusereflectancemeasurementsinthenearinfraredandshortwaveinfrared
regionstotakeadvantageofknownabsorptionfeaturesofwaterandthepenetrationdepthoflightinthenear
infraredregiontomakeintegratedmeasurementsoftotalcolumnwatercontent.Incomparisontogreenness
indices,canopywatercontentindicesareabletoseemoredeeplyintothickcanopiesandhaveapreferential
sensitivitytothinasopposedtothicktissues.
WaterBandIndex(WBI):
TheWBIisareflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetochangesincanopywatercontent.Asthewater
contentofvegetationcanopiesincreases,thestrengthofabsorptionaround970nmincreasesrelatedtothatof
900nm.ApplicationsoftheWBIincludecanopystressanalysis,productivitypredictionandmodeling,fire
hazardconditionanalysis,croplandmanagement,andstudiesofecosystemphysiology.
WBI=900nm/970nm
Thecommonrangeofvaluesforgreenvegetationis0.8to1.2.
NormalizedDifferenceWaterIndex(NDWI):

TheNDWIissensitivetochangesinvegetationcanopywatercontentbecausereflectanceat857nmand
1241nmhassimilarbutslightlydifferentliquidwaterabsorptionproperties.Thescatteringoflightbyvegetation
canopiesenhancestheweakliquidwaterabsorptionat1241nm.Applicationsincludeforestcanopystress
analysis,leafareaindexstudiesindenselyfoliatedvegetation,plantproductivitymodeling,andfire
susceptibilitystudies.
NDWI=(857nm1241nm)/(857nm+1241nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangebetween1and1.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis0.1to0.4.
MoistureStressIndex(MSI):
TheMSIisareflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetoincreasesinleafwatercontent.Asthewatercontent
ofleavesinvegetationcanopiesincreases,thestrengthofabsorptionaround1599nmincreases.Absorptionat
819nmisnearlyunaffectedbychangingwatercontent,soitisusedasareference.ApplicationsoftheMSI
includecanopystressanalysis,productivitypredictionandmodeling,firehazardconditionanalysis,andstudies
ofecosystemphysiology.TheMSIisinvertedrelativetootherwaterVIshighervaluesindicategreaterwater
stressandlesswatercontent.
MSI=1599nm/819nm
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom0tomorethan3.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationis0.4to2.
NormalizedDifferenceInfraredIndex(NDII):
TheNDIIisareflectancemeasurementthatissensitivetochangesinwatercontentofplantcanopies.TheNDII
usesanormalizeddifferenceformulationinsteadofasimpleratio,andtheindexvaluesincreasewith
increasingwatercontent.Applicationsincludeagriculturalcropmanagement,forestcanopymonitoring,and
stressedvegetationdetection.
NDII=(819nm1649nm)/(819+1649nm)
Thevaluesofthisindexrangefrom1to1.Thecommonrangeforgreenvegetationisbetweenvaluesof0.02
to0.6.
Conclusions

TheVIsprovidedinENVIarenotdesignedtoquantifytheexactconcentrationorabundanceofanygiven
vegetationcomponent.Instead,theyareintendedforuseingeographicallymappingrelativeamountsof
vegetationcomponents,whichcanthenbeinterpretedintermsofecosystemconditions.AllVIsrequirehigh
qualityreflectancemeasurementsfromeithermultispectralorhyperspectralsensors.Measurementsin
radianceunitsthathavenotbeenatmosphericallycorrected(byusingENVIAtmosphericCorrectionModule:
QUACandFLAASHorotheratmosphericcorrectionsoftware)areunsuitableandtypicallyprovidepoor
results.TheVIsthatcanbecalculatedonaspecificdatasetaredeterminedbythespectralbandssampledin
theinputdataset.Ifallspectralbandsrequiredforaspecificindexareavailable,thatVIisavailableforthe
dataset.Forexample,aninputdatasetfromasensorthatmatchesonlythenearinfraredandredspectral
bands(suchasAVHRR,TM,andothers)isonlyabletocalculatetwooftheindices:theNDVI(Normalized
DifferenceVegetationIndex)andSR(SimpleRatio).Incontrast,forahighspectralresolutioninputdataset,
suchasAVIRIS,25oftheindiceswillbeavailable.
Eachcategoryofindicestypicallyprovidesmultipletechniquesforestimatingthepresenceorabsenceofa
singlevegetationproperty.Fordifferentpropertiesandfieldconditions,someindiceswithinacategoryprovide
resultswithhighervaliditythanothers.BycomparingtheresultsofdifferentVIsinacategory,andcorrelating
thesetofieldconditionsmeasuredonsite,youcanassesswhichindicesinaparticularcategorydothebest
jobofmodelingthevariabilityinyourscene.ByusingtheVIinanycategorythatbestmodelsthemeasured
fieldconditionsforafewmeasurements,youcansignificantlyincreasethequalityoftheresultsfromany
furtherprocessing.
Inadditiontothe27VIsexposedinENVI,therearemanyadditionalVIsthathavebeenpublishedinscientific
literature.Newandemergingsensorswithimprovedspectralresolutionalsoallowscientiststomodifyexisting
indices,aswellascreatenewindicesthattakeadvantageofuniquewavelengthsoftheopticalspectrum.The
BandMathtoolinENVIallowsuserstoincorporateanyVIintotheiranalysisbycreatingcustomalgorithms
basedupontheVIofchoice.
References

Asner,G.P.,1998,BiophysicalandBiochemicalSourcesofVariabilityinCanopyReflectance,RemoteSensing
ofEnvironment,64:234253.
Ceccato,P.,S.Flasse,S.Tarantola,S.Jacquemoud,andJ.M.Gregoire,2001.DetectingVegetationLeaf
WaterContentUsingReflectanceintheOpticalDomain.RemoteSensingofEnvironment77:2233.
Champagne,C.,E.Pattey,A.Bannari,andI.B.Stratchan,2001.MappingCropWaterStatus:IssuesofScalein
theDetectionofCropWaterStressUsingHyperspectralIndices.Proceedingsofthe8thInternational
SymposiumonPhysicalMeasurementsandSignaturesinRemoteSensing,Aussois,France.Pp.7984.
Curran,P.J.,Windham,W.R.,andH.L.Gholz,1995.ExploringtheRelationshipBetweenReflectanceRedEdge
andChlorophyllConcentrationinSlashPineLeaves.TreePhysiology15:203206.
Datt,B.,1999.ANewReflectanceIndexforRemoteSensingofChlorophyllContentinHigherPlants:Tests
UsingEucalyptusLeaves.JournalofPlantPhysiology154:3036.
Daughtry,C.S.T.,2001.DiscriminatingCropResiduesfromSoilbyShortWaveInfraredReflectance.
AgronomyJournal93:125131.
Daughtry,C.S.T.,E.R.HuntJr.,andJ.E.McMurtreyIII.2004.AssessingCropResidueCoverUsingShortwave
InfraredReflectance.RemoteSensingofEnvironment90:126134.
Elowitz,MarkR.WhatisImagingSpectroscopy(HyperspectralImaging)?.RetrievedNovember27,2013,from
http://www.markelowitz.com/Hyperspectral.html
Fourty,T.,F.Baret,S.Jacquemoud,G.Schmuck,andJ.Verdebout,1996.LeafOpticalPropertieswithExplicit
DescriptionofItsBiochemicalComposition:DirectandInverseProblems.RemoteSensingofEnvironment
56:104117.
Gamon,J.A.,J.Penuelas,andC.B.Field,1992.ANarrowWavebandSpectralIndexThatTracksDiurnal
ChangesinPhotosyntheticEfficiency.RemoteSensingofEnvironment41:3544.

Gamon,J.A.,L.Serrano,andJ.S.Surfus,1997.ThePhotochemicalReflectanceIndex:AnOpticalIndicatorof
PhotosyntheticRadiationUseEfficiencyAcrossSpecies,FunctionalTypesandNutrientLevels.Oecologia
112:492501.
Gamon,J.A.andJ.S.Surfus,1999.AssessingLeafPigmentContentandActivityWithaReflectometer.New
Phytologist143:105117.Gao,B.C.,1995.NormalizedDifferenceWaterIndexforRemoteSensingof
VegetationLiquidWaterfromSpace.ProceedingsofSPIE2480:225236.
Gitelson,A.A.andM.N.Merzlyak,1994.SpectralReflectanceChangesAssociatedwithAutumnSenescenceof
AesculusHippocastanumL.andAcerPlatanoidesL.Leaves.SpectralFeaturesandRelationtoChlorophyll
Estimation.JournalofPlantPhysiology143:286292.Gitelson,A.A.,M.N.Merzlyak,andO.B.Chivkunova,
2001.OpticalPropertiesandNondestructiveEstimationofAnthocyaninContentinPlantLeaves.
PhotochemistryandPhotobiology71:3845.
Gitelson,A.A.,Y.Zur,O.B.Chivkunova,andM.N.Merzlyak,2002.AssessingCarotenoidContentinPlant
LeaveswithReflectanceSpectroscopy.PhotochemistryandPhotobiology75:272281.
Hardisky,M.A.,V.Klemas,andR.M.Smart,1983.TheInfluencesofSoilSalinity,GrowthForm,andLeaf
MoistureontheSpectralReflectanceofSpartinaAlternifloraCanopies.PhotogrammetricEngineeringand
RemoteSensing49:7783.
HuntJr.,E.R.andB.N.Rock,1989.DetectionofChangesinLeafWaterContentUsingNearAndMiddle
InfraredReflectances.RemoteSensingofEnvironment30:4354.
Jackson,T.L.,D.Chen,M.Cosh,F.Li,M.Anderson,C.Walthall,P.Doriaswamy,andE.R.Hunt,2004.
VegetationWaterContentMappingUsingLandsatDataDerivedNormalizedDifferenceWaterIndexforCorn
andSoybeans.RemoteSensingofEnvironment92:475482.
Main,R.,M.A.Cho,R.Mathieu,M.M.OKennedy,A.Ramoelo,S.Koch.AnInvestigationintorobustspectral
indicesforleafchlorophyllestimation.JournalofPhotogrammetryandRemoteSensing66(6):751761.
Merzlyak,J.R.,A.A.Gitelson,O.B.Chivkunova,andV.Y.Rakitin,1999.NondestructiveOpticalDetectionof
PigmentChangesDuringLeafSenescenceandFruitRipening.PhysiologiaPlantarum106:135141.
Hardisky,M.A.,V.Klemas,andR.M.Smart,1983.TheInfluencesofSoilSalinity,GrowthForm,andLeaf
MoistureontheSpectralReflectanceofSpartinaAlternifloraCanopies.PhotogrammetricEngineeringand
RemoteSensing49:7783.
Huete,A.R.,H.Liu,K.Batchily,andW.vanLeeuwen,1997.AComparisonofVegetationIndicesOveraGlobal
SetofTMImagesforEOSMODIS.RemoteSensingofEnvironment59(3):440451.
Jackson,T.L.,D.Chen,M.Cosh,F.Li,M.Anderson,C.Walthall,P.Doriaswamy,andE.R.Hunt,2004.
VegetationWaterContentMappingUsingLandsatDataDerivedNormalizedDifferenceWaterIndexforCorn
andSoybeans.RemoteSensingofEnvironment92:475482.
Jackson,R.D.,P.N.Slater,andP.J.Pinter,1983.DiscriminationofGrowthandWaterStressinWheatby
VariousVegetationIndicesThroughClearandTurbidAtmospheres.RemoteSensingoftheEnvironment
15:187208.
Kaufman,Y.J.andD.Tanre,1996.StrategyforDirectandIndirectMethodsforCorrectingtheAerosolEffect
onRemoteSensing:fromAVHRRtoEOSMODIS.RemoteSensingofEnvironment55:6579.
Lobell,D.B.andG.P.Asner,2003.HyperionstudiesofcropstressinMexico.Proceedingsofthe12thAnnual
JPLAirborneEarthScienceWorkshop.Pasadena,CA.
(ftp://popo.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/docs/workshops/aviris.proceedings.html).
Melillo,J.M.,J.D.Aber,andJ.F.Muratore,1982.NitrogenandLigninControlofHardwoodLeafLitter
DecompositionDynamics.Ecology63:621626.
Merzlyak,J.R.,A.A.Gitelson,O.B.Chivkunova,andV.Y.Rakitin,1999.NondestructiveOpticalDetectionof
PigmentChangesDuringLeafSenescenceandFruitRipening.PhysiologiaPlantarum106:135141.
Penuelas,J.,F.Baret,andI.Filella,1995.SemiEmpiricalIndicestoAssessCarotenoids/ChlorophyllaRatio
fromLeafSpectralReflectance.Photosynthetica31:221230.
Penuelas,J.,I.Filella,C.Biel,L.Serrano,andR.Save,1995.TheReflectanceatthe950970Regionasan
IndicatorofPlantWaterStatus.InternationalJournalofRemoteSensing14:18871905.
Rouse,J.W.,R.H.Haas,J.A.Schell,andD.W.Deering,1973.MonitoringVegetationSystemsintheGreat
PlainswithERTS.ThirdERTSSymposium,NASASP351I:309317.
Sellers,P.J.,1985.CanopyReflectance,PhotosynthesisandTranspiration.InternationalJournalofRemote
Sensing6:13351372.Serrano,L.,J.Penuelas,andS.L.Ustin,2002.RemoteSensingofNitrogenandLignin
inMediterraneanVegetationfromAVIRISData:DecomposingBiochemicalfromStructuralSignals.Remote
SensingofEnvironment81:355364.
Sims,D.A.andJ.A.Gamon,2002.RelationshipsBetweenLeafPigmentContentandSpectralReflectance
AcrossaWideRangeofSpecies,LeafStructuresandDevelopmentalStages.RemoteSensingofEnvironment
81:337354.
Sims,D.A.andJ.A.Gamon,2002.Estimationofvegetationwatercontentandphotosynthetictissueareafrom
spectralreflectance:acomparisonofindicesbasedonliquidwaterandchlorophyllabsorptionfeatures.
RemoteSensingofEnvironment84:526537.
Tucker,C.J.,1979.RedandPhotographicInfraredLinearCombinationsforMonitoringVegetation.Remote
SensingoftheEnvironment8:127150.
Tuominen,J.,T.Lipping,V.Kuosmanen,andR.Haapanen,2009.RemoteSensingofForestHealth.

GeoscienceandRemoteSensing.PeiGeePeterHo(Ed.),ISBN:9789533070032,InTech.
Vogelmann,J.E.,B.N.Rock,andD.M.Moss,1993.RedEdgeSpectralMeasurementsfromSugarMaple
Leaves.InternationalJournalofRemoteSensing14:15631575.
Zami,Zuly.TheElectromagneticSpectrum.RetrievedDecember3,2013,from
http://www.zulyzami.com/The+Electromagnetic+Spectrum
Like

11

Tw eet

Ratethisarticle:
4.4

RelatedTopics:Whitepaper,ENVIWhitepaper
Tags: ENVI

vegetationanalysis

EnvironmentalMontioring

Numberofviews(36846) / Comments(0)

Relatedarticles
ENVIHelpsFacilitatePeanutCropHealthinAustralia
ENVIUsedinRemoteSensingCourseatSouthernOregonUniversity
FrenchSpaceAgencyUsesENVItoStudyEcosystemEvolution
IndianaUniversityUsesIDL&ENVItoEnhanceGeologyInstruction
WoodsHoleResearchCenterUsingENVItoPromoteForestConservationintheNorthernCongo

Pleaseloginorregistertopostcomments.