Stony River Military Operations Area Earth Cover Classification

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Alaska and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) have been cooperatively mapping wetlands and associated uplands in Alaska using remote sensing and GIS technologies since 1988. The goal of this project was to continue the mapping effort by mapping the Stony River Military Operations Area (MOA) and associated uplands. Portions of four Landsat TM satellite scenes (Path 72, Row 16-17 acquired 6/13/86 and Path 74, Row 16-17 acquired 8/14/89) were used to classify the project area into 30 earth cover categories. An unsupervised clustering technique was used to determine the location of field sites and a custom field data collection form and digital database were used to record field information. A helicopter was utilized to gain access to field sites throughout the project area. Global positioning system (GPS) technology was used both to navigate to pre-selected sites and record locations of new sites selected in the field. The Stony River MOA Project area is approximately 14.5 million acres. Due to the large size of the project area, the project was divided into an eastern and western project area. Field work, classification, and accuracy assessment was split between two field crews and two image processors. The Eastern Stony Project area is approximately 8.8 million acres and data were collected on 536 field sites during a 16 day field season from July 14, 1999 through July 29,1999. Approximately 25% (149) of these field sites were set aside for accuracy assessment. The Western Stony Project is approximately 5.7 million acres and data were collected on 338 field sites during a 13 day field season from July 29 to August 10 1999. Approximately 25% (83) of these field sites were set aside for accuracy assessment. A modified supervised/unsupervised classification technique was performed to classify the satellite imagery. The classification scheme for the earth cover inventory was based on Viereck et at. (1992) and revised through a series of meetings coordinated by the BLM - Alaska and DU. The overall accuracy of the mapping categories was 91% at the +/-5% level of variation for the Eastern Stony Project and 90% at the +/-5% level of variation for Western Stony Project.