How good is TanDEM-X 50 m forest/non-forest map? Product validation using temporally corrected geo-browser supplied imagery through Collect Earth

Abstract

TanDEM-X Forest/Non-Forest (FNF) map(s) have been one such data focusing on the status of global forest coverage, which has played an essential role in combating climate change. Although the producers have carried out verification and comparison analyses, the need for accuracy assessments in a broader sense creates uncertainties for the users to approve the new data. For this purpose, TanDEM-X 50 m FNF maps were exclusively examined visually through 66,000 test grids within 30 geocells selected from temperate, boreal, and tropical forest zones. Thus, it was aimed to provide product accuracy utilizing visual inspections to the end users of TanDEM-X FNF maps. In addition, Collect Earth (CE) software was used to evaluate the dataset visually, and its advantages or disadvantages were compared with similarly designed studies. Consequently, even though the producers’ data sets were found to have an accuracy of around 85%, it was observed that there were some issues, especially in the definition of the “non-forest” class. CE software was found to be helpful in such studies. However, the dependence of the analyses on geo-browser supplied imagery had some limitations in estimating the accuracy of a new dataset.