Abstract

By the advancement of technology in recent years, the use of remotely sensed data for land resource mapping and evaluation, was increased, mainly because of the easy access of data and the nearby availability of digital image processing facility. The present study was undertaken to assess the scope of remotely sensed data for vegetation classification and cane resource mapping in Kerala forests. It was also aimed to identify a standard digital analysis procedure which can be adopted by the scientists to meet their mapping requirements. Considering the limitations of remote sensing data, an attempt was made to delineate cane habitat in North and Central Kerala region, on experimental basis, using IRS IA LISS 1 computer compatible tapes. The vegetation of the area was mapped into different major land cover classes and the cane habitat was further subdivided under the class semievergreen and evergreen. The broad classification of the forests into cane area and caneless area