The objective of this study is to estimate the leaf area index (LAI) of a forest ecosystem using two different satellite images, WorldView-2 and Aster. For this purpose, 108 sample plots were taken from pure Crimean pine forest stands of Yenice Forest Management Planning Unit in Ilgaz Forest Management Enterprise, Turkey. Each sample plot was imaged with hemispherical photographs with a fish-eye camera to determine the LAI. These photographs were analyzed with the help of Hemisfer Hemiview software program, and thus, the LAI of each sample plot was estimated. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis method was used to model the statistical relationships between the LAI values and band spectral reflection values and some vegetation indices (Vis) obtained from satellite images. The results show that the high-resolution WorldView-2 satellite image is better than the medium-resolution Aster satellite image in predicting the LAI. It was also seen that the results obtained by using the VIs are better than the bands when the LAI value is predicted with satellite images.
Keywords: Aster; Forest management; Leaf area index; Multiple regression; WorldView-2.