Use of rice response characteristics in area estimation by LANDSAT/TM and MOS-1 satellites data

Abstract Satellite image interpretation for LANDSAT/TM and MOS-1 data was conducted for identification and area estimation of rice fields for Hishikari Town in Kyushu Island near Kagoshima City, Japan. The results were confirmed by video-recorded aerial photographs and by ground observations. The rice field identification, which was carried out by computer-implemented MDM classification using LODIA software, created some confusion between different test sites. However, the digitally processed image of the LANDSAT/TM 4 and 5 band difference index, discriminated the rice fields very well. The estimated rice areas were observed to be fairly close to the statistical reports made by the town office. The present study shows the potential of image processing for the identification and area estimation by rice response characteristics.