The estimation of green-leaf-area index from remotely sensed airborne multispectral scanner data

Airborne multispectral scanning system (MSS) data from the Natural Environment Research Council's MSS-82 project were used to estimate the green-leaf-area index (GLAI) of an area of semi-natural and agricultural limestone grassland. This research is the pilot study of a five phase investigation which will ultimately test the feasibility of using airborne and spaceborne MSS data to estimate GLAI over large areas. The pilot study was designed around four stages: (i) derivation of the relationship between multispectral reflectance and vegetation amount using ground radiometric data collected in the field, (ii) production of a perpendicular-vegetation index (PVI) image, (iii) production of a GLAI image using the relationship between PVI and GLAI and (iv) accuracy assessment of the resultant GLAI image. Due to a number of project- and environment-specific problems the proposed methodology was modified and GLAI was predicted to an accuracy of 50-86 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level. For the future, a change of project design and the use of a vegetation model to correct for environmental anomalies will enable the technique to be used to greater effect.