Spatial Characteristics of Forest Type Distribution on the Basis of Geo-morphological Factors and IKONOS Satellite lmagery
Woo-Kyun Lee, Jun-Hak Lee, Kee-Hyun Chung and Eun-Jin Jun

 

ABSTRACT : In this study, spatial characteristics of tree species distribution was analyzed using high resolution satellite imagery and geo-morphological factors based on GIS. The spatial distribution of Quercus spp. ( Q. mongo/ica, Q. variabi/is, Q. acutissima) in a natural deciduous forest was classified using IKONOS satellite imagery taken in May 2000 with 4m spatial resolution and 4 spectral band. Raster thematic maps of elevation, slope, and exposition were prepared using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) taken using digital contour map of 1 : 5,000 scale. Geo-temperature index and aspect index of each raster cell were calculated from DEM and corresponding
raster thematic maps were also prepared. Differences in spatial distribution of tree species could be characterized by geomorphological factors which was expressed geo-temperature index and aspect index. And potential spatial distribution of tree species was estimated according to the occupation provability model. The suggested GIS-based geo-morphological factors such as geo-temperature and aspect index could be used for analyzing the spatial characteristics of tree spec•es distribution, and further more can be applied for analyzing the relationship between changes in spatial distribution of tree species and change in time.

Key word : tree species spatial distnbution, geomorphologtcal factcrs. geo-temperature index, aspect index, Potential spatial distribution, GIS, IKONOS