First order approximation of broadband directional Albedo with High Resolution Quickbird Imagery: A case study for arid urban areas
Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2-2016
Abstract
Albedo is a key forcing parameter controlling the planetary radiative energy budget and its partitioning between the surface and the atmosphere. Characterizing and developing high resolution albedo for an urban environment in arid regions is important because of the high urbanization rate in these regions and because of the high land-cover heterogeneity within urban settings. Using a Monte Carlo simulation of a multi-variable regression, we (a) correlate directional solar reflectance (albedo) ground measurements from Phoenix, AZ, with four narrowband reflectance data from QuickBird, and (b) developed a new set of coefficients for converting QuickBird narrowband reflectances to albedo. The albedo models were then applied to a second image over Las Vegas, NV, to assess their feasibility and accuracy. Two wavebands, visible-near infrared (VNIR) and total shortwave albedo, were evaluated for two reflectance models: surface and top-of-atmosphere. Results show that it is possible to accurately estimate directional albedo from high resolution imagery, specifically QuickBird, with the most accurate result from an atmospherically corrected VNIR model. The methodology presented in this paper could thus be applied in other urban areas to obtain a first order estimation of albedo. The new set of coefficients can be applied as first order albedo estimate by researchers, urban planners, developers and city managers interested in the influence of high-resolution albedo on a myriad of urban ecosystem processes.
Keywords
Albedo, urban, Quickbird, modeling, arid regions, high resolution
Discipline
Urban Studies and Planning
Research Areas
Political Science
Publication
GIScience and Remote Sensing
Volume
53
Issue
3
First Page
303
Last Page
319
ISSN
1548-1603
Identifier
10.1080/15481603.2016.1153944
Publisher
Taylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles
Citation
KAPLAN, Shai, GALLETTI, Christopher S., CHOW, Winston T. L., & MYINT, Soe W..(2016). First order approximation of broadband directional Albedo with High Resolution Quickbird Imagery: A case study for arid urban areas. GIScience and Remote Sensing, 53(3), 303-319.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3071
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2016.1153944