Estimating Pinyon and Juniper Tree Cover Across Utah Using NAIP Imagery

Authors

Darrell Roundy, Brigham Young University
Dr. Steven Petersen, Brigham Young University

Keywords

pinyon tree, juniper tree, tree cover, NAIP imagery

College

Life Sciences

Department

Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Abstract

Pinyon and juniper (pj) encroachment is an ecological problem in the western United States. As these species expand they replace valuable sagebrush and grassland communities decreasing forage for livestock and wildlife, reducing habitat for multiple sagebrush obligate species and increasing fuel loads that may lead to large, high severity fires and subsequent weed dominance (McIver et al 2010) (See Figure 1). Ground methods used to measure tree cover and assess potential fire danger and ecosystem degradation are often time consuming and labor intensive (Booth et al 2005). Assessment of tree cover and fuel loads from remotely-sensed imagery could be more rapid and economical than ground methods.

Recommended Citation

Roundy, Darrell and Petersen, Dr. Steven (2013) "Estimating Pinyon and Juniper Tree Cover Across Utah Using NAIP Imagery," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1605.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1605