The Relationship between Tropical Forest Stand Variables after a Fire and SPOT XS Satellite Data

Abstract

Forest stand variables provide important information for sound forest management. We developed estimation models for forest stand variables such as number of trees per ha (N), stand basal area (BA) and stand volume (V) of undamaged trees in a tropical forest after a fire. We used the spectral bands of SPOT XS and the transformation bands including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and inverse vegetation index (IVI) as independent variables. The regression technique was used for the model selection. Stand volume and basal area of undamaged trees were found to be significantly correlated with NDVI and IVI. For stand basal area, the best model was BA=22.838-28.982 IVI with R^2=0.729; and for stand volume V=316.707-405.661 IVI with R^2=0.791. Such quantitative forest information may be useful for monitoring the forest.