Improved Capability in Stone Pine Forest Mapping and Management in Lebanon Using Hyperspectral CHRIS-Proba Data Relative to Landsat ETM

The Stone Pine (pin us pined) is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used for their edible pine nuts since prehistoric times. They are widespread in horticultural cultivation as ornamental trees and planted in gardens and parks around the world. Economically speaking, the Stone Pine is very important for the agriculture sector, for tour ism. and for the health sector. In this research, a pilot area located in Mount Lebanon is compared for changes in the Stone Pine cover between the years of 1962 and 2012. The comparison is based on processing a hyperspectral image provided by the European Space Agency (EsA) and a Landsat ETM+ image as well as topographic maps. Several issues related to the use of CHRIS-Proba hyperspectral images have been investigated and analyzed. The results established that hyperspectral data: (a) is 30 percent or more accurate and efficient when compared with multispectral data, and (b) helps determine precise extent of the Stone Pine cover.