NDVI

Normalized difference vegetation index

Band Ratios in Remote Sensing

KEY REFERENCE:

Kidwell, K.B., 1990, Global Vegetation Index User's Guide, U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration/National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service/National Climatic Data Center/Satellite Data
Services Division.
 First: A few Simple Reminders about Spectral Signatures

Thanks to Robin Weeks

 Laboratory Spectral Signatures II
Common Urban Materials

Healthy grass

Concrete

Astroturf

wavelength

Thanks to Robin Weeks

The Effect of the Atmosphere on Spectral Data

Path Radiance (Lp)

Atmospheric
Transmissivity (T)

Thanks to Robin Weeks

 Effect of Topography
on Scatterplots
Grassy Flat terrain
fields
Terrain without
topography

Water/ Bare ground

shade

Terrain with topography

Thanks to Robin Weeks

Vegetation:

Pigment in Plant Leaves

(Chlorophyll) strongly absorbs
visible light (0.4 to 0.7 m)

Cell Structure however strongly

reflects Near-IR (0.7 1.1 m)

Thanks to Robin Weeks

 NDVI

(courtesy http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
 NDVI: NearIR Red / NearIR + Red

Green Vegetation
Band 4

Soil

Shade/
Water
Band 3

When using LANDSAT:

Simple Ratio
Band 3
Band 4

Band 4

NDVI
Band 4 - Band 3
Band 4 + Band 3
Band 3