nrad 
0275 
ines/s 
ine 
- 1791 - 
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE INTERPRETATION OF LANDSAT MSS 
DATA TO FOREST COVER MAPPING IN GERMANY 
By 
Carlos Marx Ribeiro Carneiro and Gerd Hildebrandt 
ABSTRACT: This paper studied the qualitative and quantitative 
applicability of LANDSAT MSS data to forest cover mapping in 
intensively managed forests of Germany. Visual interpretations 
were carried out, both by conventional methods and with the aid 
of a Color Additive Viewer, as well as automated interpretations 
based on microdensitometer measurements, and also supervised 
and unsupervised computer aided procedures. The differences in 
the results were statistically analyzed. A feasibility study 
of the different methods for the area of study was made. 
1. Introduction: Despite the fact that the Landsat program is 
still experimental, the "operationality" of Landsat MSS Data in 
the mapping of natural resources seems to be a reality nowadays, 
either through simple methods of visual interpretation or through 
the relatively recent automated procedures - via sophisticated 
soft- and hardwares. 
However, it has been observed that the most effective utilization 
in forest mapping is concentrated so far on countries with more 
or less extensive forest management. 
In Central Europe with its specific regional characteristics, 
intensive forest management and related information needs, the 
low resolution data of Landsat are discredited to be of limited 
value. 
The present study aimed basically to investigate the applicability 
of Landsat MSS qualitative and quantitative methods of inter- 
pretation in intensive forest management areas, in an attempt 
to acquire useful information concerning their utilization in 
Central Europe. 
2. Material and Methods: 
This study was conducted in the Southwest region of Germany, 
both on the flat areas of the Rhine Valley and the mountaineous 
areas of the Black Forest, within a radius of 30 kms from the 
city of Freiburg. 
  
The forests of the Rhine Valley are mostly covered by deciduous 
stands (Quercus pedinculata, Ulmus spec., Fraxinus excelsa, 
Populus spec. etc.). On some dry sites pure pine stands (Pinus 
silvatica, Pinus nigra) are growing. Mixed forests prevail in 
the foothills and the lower parts of the Black Forest (conifers 
and Fagus silvatica, Quercus sessiliflora, Acer spec. etc.). 
The mountaineous area is predominantly covered by conifers 
(Picea abies, Abies alba, Larix spec.).