Comparative Analysis of Deforestation Using NDVI and SAVI | Chapter 5 | New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 6

 

Deforestation is seen as the conversion of forest land into farms, ranches, or urban use; described as an illegal way of cutting down forest trees for human utilisation. Developing alternatives to deforestation by adopting sustainable farming practices can restore the lost forest, through replanting trees in cleared areas or by simply allowing the ecosystem to regenerate forest over time. The major aim of forest restoration is to return it to its original state before it was cleared. The surface reflectance indicated by vegetation obtained through remote sensing is distinct compared to other surface bodies over a given scene. Utilising this distinct capability allows the detection of the presence of vegetation. Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) compares the total amount of visible red light absorbed with the amount of reflected near-infrared light by a surface. Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) is somewhat similar to NDVI but adjusted by a factor ‘L’ to correct for soil noise effects, which impact the results. Therefore, this study aimed to compare deforestation using NDVI and SAVI. The study was conducted at Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. Satellite imageries from Landsat data were used to determine the deforestation areas, and the results were compared to ascertain the discrepancies produced by the two methods. Spectral information contained in each of the bands defined by a band in the electromagnetic energy of interest was used for the energy level required in the combination. Forest changes show effectively that there exists similarity in their patterns of change measured with both techniques, but when the need to obtain actual areas of change arises, one has to select the most appropriate technique. The result of the comparison of forested area by the two methods shows similar pattern and behavior, the net vegetation difference ranges from +9.906% to +18.705%, and the forested area from +14.466% to 0.000% while the open land, built-up and bare soil index cover shows a decrease over the years ranging from -13.343% in 1990 to - 2.321% in 2013 respectively. However, NDVI shows a lower area covered by vegetation and forest compared to SAVI, meaning that the total area affected by forest changes by the two methods is not in any way the same. The study recommended that good policies, along with alternative energy sources to bio-fuel consumption, replacement of felled trees, and improved agricultural practices, can help in the recovery of lost forested areas.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Ayuba Abubakar Fusami
Department of Surveying & Geo-informatics, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.

 

Olivia Chidimma Nweze
Department of Surveying & Geo-informatics, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.

 

Rekiya Hassan
Department of Surveying & Geo-informatics, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nhstc/v6/6654