Abstract
The Chitose region of Hokkaido, Japan was selected as the study area because of the large number of conifer plantations and old deciduous stands. Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) data taken using the Optical Sensor (OPS) was acquired on April 17, 1993. The background and understory in the study area were still covered with snow, and the deciduous trees and shrubs had not yet opened their leaves for the approaching spring. The objectives of the research were to classify conifer tree species and to evaluate spectral differences between tree age classes and phenological stages (unopened, emerging, open) in coniferous stands. Representative conifer tree species forming closed cover were selected as sample classes. The forest cover type classification was produced with the maximum likelihood classifier. The results of the field survey and analysis indicated the following: (1) The near infrared band (band 3) was very useful for classifying vegetation. The differences between tree species were especially important. (2) There were spectral differences for the Japanese larch (Lalix leptolepis) depending on leaf phenological stage in spring time. (3) The mean VNIR bands' values for old stands of Sakhalin spruce (Picea glehnii) were lower than the mean value for young stands. (4) Bands 1 and 2, and bands 6, 7 and 8 showed a similar spectral pattern in the forest cover classes. (5) OPS has a high potential to classify forest cover type and distinguish between tree ages and phenological stages in coniferous stands.
