Method for assessing spectral indices efficiency for mapping tropical wetlands—SIA_MW

A novel method for assessing spectral index efficiencies for landscape mapping in tropical wetlands was formulated: spectral indices assessment for mapping tropical wetlands (SIA_MW). SIA_MW consists of three stages: (1) identification of covers that make up the landscape, (2) feature selection consistency assessment, and (3) result validation. These stages are evaluated based on six criteria, each of which contains a decision rule (DR) with their respective rating alternatives. The DRs are integrated into two equations: efficiency of an index for landscape mapping in tropical wetlands (EIM_W) and efficiency of an index for water body mapping in tropical wetlands (EIM_Ww). SIA_MW has been proposed as a novel instrument that allows each of the stages of supervised classification to be developed and evaluated in an orderly and coherent manner. This ensures that the final decision to select an index is supported by a robust process that integrates qualitative and quantitative methods of spectral evaluation. SIA_MW is applicable to multiple remote sensing products and can be used in environments other than wetlands. This is because it is independent of factors such as landscape cover categories, the type of sensor product from which spectral indices are derived, and spectral classification algorithms. For the formulation of SIA_MW, the Bajo Sinú Wetland Complex (BSWC), located in northern Colombia, was selected as a pilot site, and 9 vegetation indices derived from a PlanteScope image were compared and evaluated. The soil-adjusted vegetation and water-adjusted vegetation indices (SAVI and WAVI, respectively) yielded the best results with values for EMI_W of 0.94 and 0.89, respectively. These results indicate SIA_MW was consistent because the covariance between the two best indices was 0.88. Additionally, the correlation between the DR scores of the evaluated indices was low, thus, indicating criteria complementarity.