Mapping and analyzing forest and corridor landscape components: Development of a methodology using image processing, spatial statistics, and a geographic information system

In agriculture-dominated landscapes, corridors may link isolated forest patches and extend wildlife habitat. Research on mapping and analyzing corridors has been limited. Satellite data and image analysis were used to classify a study area in Southwestern Ontario. The method involved masking so that forest and corridor features could be better classified. Spectral confusion and mixels were problems. Landscape structure indices were used as an analytical tool within a geographic information system to edit forest and corridors in a post-classification process. Patch-level indices of shape were only moderately successful at differentiating between linear and other patches of complex shape. Patch-level indices were successful at tracking changes resulting from editing and describing landscape structure. Resulting maps included forest patches with interior, small forest patches, and large and small corridors. The methodology and final maps can be used to assess suitability of landscapes for wildlife and for land management projects.