distance to means of 72.3% in Avicennia schaueriana Stapf & 
Leechman coverage and 27.7% of canopy gaps was considered 
as most accurate results. 
  
CLASSIFICATION | Avicennia Canopy Not 
TECHNIQUE schaueriana gap classified 
Stapf & coverage 
Leechman (96) (96) 
coverage 
(96) 
parallelepiped 37.2 29,5 33.3 
minimum distance 57.6 42.4 0.0 
maximum 50.2 49.8 0.0 
  
likelihood 
Table 1 comparative results for different supervised 
classifications techniques used in sample A window. 
  
  
  
IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring”, Hyderabad, India,2002 
  
CLASSIFICATION Avicennia Canopy Not 
TECHNIQUE schaueriana gap classified 
Stapf & coverag 
Leechman e (%) 
coverage (%) 
(%) 
parallelepiped 56.6 29.2 14.2 
minimum distance 723 27.7 0.0 
maximum 64.0 36.0 0.0 
likelihood 
  
  
  
  
Table 2. Comparative results for different supervised 
classifications techniques used in sample B window. 
4. DISCUSSION 
Canopy gaps for Avicennia schaueriana Stapf & Leechman 
trees in Itacorubi mangrove were quantified by using four 
techniques: conventional stereo photointerpretation, 
parallelepiped, minimum distance to means and maximum 
likelihood supervised classifications. 
Considering results for sample windows A and B, data fusion 
technique applied for spectral improvement of the automatic 
interpretation base and later determination of canopy gaps in 
Itacorubi mangrove was a successful task. Obtained results in 
sample A window for minimum distance to means were 
consistent with observed and measured field-truth results. 
Parallelepiped classification was less accurate after maximum 
likelihood results. 
Sample B window results for the same technique were assumed 
as more accurate. Considering these results as true, 
parallelepiped classification was the less accurate with an 
expressive number of pixels not classified, after maximum 
likelihood results. 
5. CONCLUSSIONS 
As described, this technique could be used as objective 
environmental monitoring tool for canopy gaps determination 
in Itacorubi mangrove. Used as field-truth, conventional stereo 
photointerpretation results were obtained from panchromatic 
colour aerial photographs. 
These photographs usually have a high spatial resolution, fact 
that is a vantage when this technique is applied. But design of 
layers is usually slow and sometimes subjective, carrying an 
alteration of features metric properties. Most part of 
classification software had no capabilities for 3D automatic 
features reconnaissance, so human perception of elevation is 
main source of features differentiation. 
Changing spectral resolution is a way for classification base 
improvement, but not always same spatial resolution as aerial 
photogrammetric systems is available. Data fusion is an 
alternative for merging metric properties of aerial photographs 
with thematic richness of infrared digital surveyings. 
When adequate training sites are defined, optimal results can be 
obtained using minimum distance to means supervised 
classification techniques based on data fusion conventional 
panchromatic colour aerial photographs and digital infrared 
surveyings. 
6. REFERENCES 
Albertz, J.; 1991. Grundlagen der Interpretation von Luft- und 
Satellitenbildern. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 
Darmstadt, Deutschland. 
Cavalcanti Walcacer, F. Meio-ambiente urbano no Brasil. In: 
Benjamin, Antonio H. Dano ambiental, prevençäo, reparaçäo e 
repressáo. Sáo Paulo : Editora Revista dos Tribunais, 1993. 
470p. 
Cintron, G.; Schaeffer-Novelli, Y.; 1981. Los manglares de la 
costa brasileña: revisión preliminar de la literatura. II. Los 
manglares de Santa Catarina. Informe técnico preparado para 
la Oficina Regional de Ciencia y Tecnología para América 
Latina y el Caribe. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e 
UNESCO. 68p. 
Duke, N.; 1992. Mangrove floristics and biogeography. In: 
Robertson, A.; Alongi, D. Tropical mangrove ecosystems. 
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Florianópolis; 1998. Prefeitura Municipal. IPUF - Instituto de 
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IBGE; 1990. Geografia do Brasil - Regiäo Sul. Fundaçäo 
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Kraus, K.; 1990. Fernerkundung, Band - Auswertung 
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New Mexico Highlands University, 2000a. Mangroves in 
http://bos.nmhu.edu/mangrove.html, 20/09/2001. The 
    
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
    
     
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
    
     
  
     
    
  
   
    
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
   
  
   
    
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