Capabilities of Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data in regional mapping and characterization of inland valley agroecosystems in West Africa

Abstract This study demonstrated the capabilities of Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data in regional mapping and characterization of inland valley (valley bottoms plus valley slopes or fringes) agroecosystems. A methodology was developed involving image enhancement, display and digitizing, as well as image and Geographical Information System (GIS) manipulation techniques for rapid studies of inland valley characteristics over large areas. A case study was conducted using Landsat-5 TM data over the regions of Save and Parakou in the Republic of Benin (path: 192, row:54 of Landsat TM World Reference System) encompassing about 3.12 × 106ha (study area) to highlight the strengths of the methodology. The results showed the ability of TM data, using the espoused methodology, to map inland valley characteristics: (a) as well as or better than 1 : 200000 topographic maps; and (b) to a significantly similar level to that of 1 : 50000 topographic maps. The technique involving a ratio image of TM4/TM7 (red), TM4/TM3...

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