Comparison of various spectral indices for optimum extraction of tropical wetlands using landsat 8 OLI

Abstract

This research specifically aims to investigate the most accurate spectral indices in extracting wetlands geospatial information taking South Kalimantan, Indonesia, as an example of wetlands in tropical areas. Ten spectral indices were selected for testing their ability to extract wetlands, those are NDVI, NDWI, MNDWI, MNDWIs2, NDMI, WRI, NDPI, TCWT, AWEInsh, andAWEIsh. Tests were performed on Landsat 8 OLI path/row 117/062 and 117/063. The threshold method which was used to separate the wetland features from the spectral indices imagery is Otsu method. The results of this research showed that generally MNDWIs2 was the most optimal spectral indices in wetlands extraction. Especially tropical wetlands that rich with green vegetation cover. However, MNDWIs2 is very sensitive to dense vegetation, this feature has the potential to be detected as wetlands. Furthermore, to improve the accuracy and prevent detection of the dryland vegetation as wetlands, the threshold value should be determined carefully.