| An integrated cartographic image Geographic Information System (GIS) was developed for a 1085 square mile forested region in East Texas, encompassing parts of Tyler, Hardin, and Jasper Counties. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite data were used to determine the existing land cover GIS level. The Landsat TM (30 meter resolution) classified image was compared to the Landsat Multispectral Scanner System (MSS) (80 meter resolution) 1976-77 classified image produced by NASA Earth Resource Laboratory. Results from change analysis indicate 5.5 percent of the pine plantation in 1976-77 was bare ground or inert material in 1982; approximately 14.3 percent of the study area was new pine plantation in 1982; and approximately 4.6 percent of the area was new cleared ground or inert material in 1982. A potential natural vegetation (PNV) model was devised by implementing proximity analysis, weighted index, and matrix functions of the analytical GIS. Potential natural vegetation cover, output from the PNV model, was compared to existing conditions in 1976-77 and 1982. National High Altitude Program (NHAP) color-infrared photographs were video digitized, rectified to the GIS, then merged with Landsat TM data to increase spatial resolution of the image product and improve identification of wetland vegetation types. |
