In this study, effective spectral bands were selected using several methods to produce a wetland vegetation classification map with airborn MSS data. In the process of band selection, we have determined the optimal bands combinations using the both standards of maximizing Jeffries-Matusita (JM) distance and maximizing the classification accuracy of the test data. Then, in order to check how the classification method affect the band selection, we have compared the results of band selection by maximum likelihood method and minimum distance method. Band selection was conducted for 20 combinations of training and test data set, and the results were evaluated to rank the effectiveness of each band. The results shows that the firstly selected 3 bands are common for the case of JM distance and the classification accuracy of test data. These 3 bands are, 1: near infra red band (0.82-0.90μm) which is sensitive to the biomass of plants, 2: mid infra red band (1.52-1.72μm) which is sensitive to water content of the surface, 3: green band (0.57-0.59μm). This order of the first 3 selected bands was same for both maximum likelihood and minimum distance methods. However, after the 4th band selection, the selected bands have changed both by selection standards and classification methods. It was observed that the increasing rate of classification accuracy saturated in the case of using test data accuracy standard. Especially, by the maximum classification method, the classification accuracy have decreased after the 5 th band. Finally, the wetland vegetation map was produced using the 7 bands of the MSS data which have attained the maximum classification accuracy of the test data. While the conventional air-photograph interpretation method to produce wetland vegetation map have failed to classify the detailed vegetation types in the bog area, we have succeeded in classifing the bog vegetation into the classes of community dominated by Isotutuji (Ledum palustre), Suge (C. lyngbyei), Yoshi (Phragmites communis), Mizugoke (Sphagnaceae) and Hannoki (Alnus japonica).
