Vegetation Analysis Band Combination
The Vegetation Analysis band combination (SWIR1, NIR, Red) offers information and color contrast for bare soil and vegetation detection. It is suitable for studies of vegetation and is extensively used in, EOSDA Crop Monitoring, infestation detection and management, and timber management. Crops in arid regions, coniferous and deciduous forests appear with a gradually darker green dynamic, while irrigated and healthy vegetation appears with a light green. Soils appear as mauve, tan and brown.
SWIR1 in the band combination is sensitive to changes in water content in the leaf-tissue (turgidity). It is responsive to the moisture difference in soil and vegetation where, as the water content increases its reflectance decreases. This band is instrumental in determining plant vigor and differentiating succulents from woody vegetation. It is also sensitive to the presence or absence of hematite or ferric iron in rocks where the reflectance increases as the hematite or ferric iron increases. It separates between clouds (dark toned) and ice/snow (light toned).
NEAR IR – discriminates vegetation vigor and varieties. The fact that water strongly absorbs NIR makes this band good for definition of water bodies and distinguishes dry and moist soils.
RED – sensed in a strong chlorophyll absorption region, which makes it useful for discriminating soil and vegetation. It has a high reflectance for most soils region and is also helpful in delineating snow cover.
SWIR1, NIR, Red – Usage And Interpretation
Each band in the combination plays a significant role in developing an image’s that is useful for vegetation studies. The image is used for the vegetation conditions and soil moisture analysis. It is also suitable for inland water bodies and water and land boundaries location.
In the combination, healthy vegetation appears with a bright green and soils with a mauve. Sturdy vegetation beams in bright red. This makes the combination noble for remote sensing of agricultural, forest and wetlands usage.
