Evaluating Windfall Damage Caused by Typhoon 200418 Using SPOT2 Images of a Private Forest in Tomakomai

Abstract

In September 2004, Typhoon 200418 created very strong winds in Hokkaido, Japan, causing large-scale windfall forest damage in the region, especially in Tomakomai City near Shikotsu Lake. We applied remote-sensing techniques using SPOT2 satellite images to estimate the distribution and area of the windfall damage. The total area of windfall damage resulting from the typhoon was estimated to be 1,122ha in Tomakomai. We examined the accuracy of the analyzed area based on a damage report. Using SPOT2 satellite images, we could evaluate large-scale (≥1ha) windfall damage, and we found that the analysis results can be used to reduce the effort of a field survey.