NDVI

Normalized difference vegetation index

Band Ratios in Remote Sensing

KEY REFERENCE:
Kidwell, K.B., 1990, Global Vegetation Index User's Guide, U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration/National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service/National Climatic Data Center/Satellite Data
Services Division.

First: A few Simple Reminders about Spectral Signatures

Thanks to Robin Weeks

Laboratory Spectral Signatures II

Common Urban Materials

Healthy grass

Concrete

Astroturf

wavelength
Thanks to Robin Weeks

The Effect of the Atmosphere on Spectral Data

Path Radiance (Lp)

Atmospheric
Transmissivity (T)

Thanks to Robin Weeks

Effect of Topography
on Scatterplots
Grassy
fields

Water/
shade

Flat terrain
Terrain without
topography

Bare ground

Terrain with topography

Thanks to Robin Weeks

Vegetation:
Pigment in Plant Leaves
(Chlorophyll) strongly absorbs
visible light (0.4 to 0.7 m)
Cell Structure however strongly
reflects Near-IR (0.7 1.1 m)

Thanks to Robin Weeks

NDVI

(courtesy http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov)

NDVI: NearIR Red / NearIR + Red

Band 4

Green Vegetation

Soil
Shade/
Water

Band 3

When using LANDSAT:

Simple Ratio
Band 4

Band 3
Band 4
NDVI
Band 4 - Band 3
Band 4 + Band 3
Band 3