Satellite imagery has long been used to derive vegetation cover. With supporting field sampling, vegetation density (VIP 15) can be classified using the supervised image classification techniques. This is especially useful where the vegetation regrowth covers extensive areas making field surveys too time consuming and expensive. The figure below shows the result of a vegetation classification over a revegetated area at the McKinley mine site. Given adequate field sampling, these categories can be expressed in terms of percent cover as well. Three cover density categories were mapped and areas of low vegetative cover can be visited to determine if they need additional work.
Vegetation Cover