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Application of fuzzy models for the monitoring of ecologically sensitive ecosystems in a dynamic semi‐arid landscape from satellite imagery

Meng‐Lung Lin (Department of Tourism, Aletheia University, Tamsui, Taiwan)
Cheng‐Wu Chen (Department of Logistics Management, Shu‐Te University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan)

Engineering Computations

ISSN: 0264-4401

Article publication date: 5 January 2010

1337

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to better understand landscape dynamics in arid and semi‐arid environments. Land degradation has recently become an important issue for land management in western China. The oasis ecosystem is especially sensitive to environmental disturbances, such as abnormal/extreme precipitation events, variations in the water supply from the upper watersheds, fluctuations in temperature, etc. Satellite remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems can provide us with the temporal dynamics and spatial distributions of green cover over large areas of landscape. Seasonal green cover data are especially important in assessing landscape health (e.g. desertification, rate of urban sprawl, natural disturbances) in arid and semi‐arid regions. In this study, green cover data are derived from vegetation indices retrieved from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors onboard the satellite Terra.

Design/methodology/approach

Satellite images recorded during the period from April 2000 to December 2005 are analyzed and the spatial distribution and temporal changes of the Ejin Oasis quantified.

Findings

This study shows that it is possible to derive important parameters linked to landscape sensitivity from MODIS and the derived imagery, such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time‐series data. Such a MODIS‐based time‐series monitoring system is particularly useful in arid and semi‐arid environments. The results of landscape sensitivity analysis prove the effectiveness of the method in assessing landscape sensitivity from the years 2001‐2005.

Practical implications

The novel strategy used in this investigation is based on the T‐S fuzzy model, which is in turn based on fuzzy theory and fuzzy operations.

Originality/value

Simulation results based on fuzzy models will help to improve the monitoring techniques used to evaluate land degradation and to estimate the newest tendency in landscape green cover dynamics in the Ejin Oasis.

Keywords

Citation

Lin, M. and Chen, C. (2010), "Application of fuzzy models for the monitoring of ecologically sensitive ecosystems in a dynamic semi‐arid landscape from satellite imagery", Engineering Computations, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 5-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/02644401011008504

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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