A georeferenced LANDSAT digital database for forest insect-damage assessment

Abstract

A joint research project involving NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry/Division of Forest Pest Management demonstrated the utility of LANDSAT data for assessing forest insect damage. A major effort within the project was the creation of a map-registered, statewide LANDSAT digital database for Pennsylvania. The database, developed and implemented on Pennsylvania State University computers, incorporates LANDSAT imagery, a LANDSAT-derived forest resource map and digitized data layers depicting Forest Pest Management district boundaries and county boundaries. A user-friendly data management system was also developed to provide an interface between the various layers of information within the database and image-analysis software. This system ensures that an automated assessment of defoliation damage can be conducted and summarized by geographic area or jurisdiction of interest