Augmented normalized difference water index for improved monitoring of surface water

Environmental Modeling and Software
By: , and 

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Abstract

We present a comprehensive critical review of well-established satellite remote sensing water indices and offer a novel, robust Augmented Normalized Difference Water Index (ANDWI). ANDWI employs an expanded set of spectral bands, RGB, NIR, and SWIR1-2, to maximize the contrast between water and non-water pixels. Further, we implement a dynamic thresholding method, the Otsu algorithm, to enhance ANDWI's performance. Applied to a variety of environmental conditions, ANDWI with Otsu-thresholding offered the highest overall accuracy (accuracy = 0.98, F1 = 0.98, and Kappa = 0.96) compared to other indices (NDWI, MNDWI, AWEI, WI). We also propose a novel cloud filtering algorithm that substantially increases the number of useable images compared to the conventional cloud-free composites (124% increased observations in the studied area) and resolves inappropriate masking of water bodies and hot sands as clouds by conventional methods. Finally, we develop a Google Earth Engine App to readily delineate 16-day surface water bodies across the globe.

Suggested Citation

Rad, A.M., Kreitler, J.R., and Sadegh, M., 2021, Augmented normalized difference water index for improved monitoring of surface water: Environmental Modeling and Software, v. 140, 105030, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105030.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Augmented normalized difference water index for improved monitoring of surface water
Series title Environmental Modeling and Software
DOI 10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105030
Volume 140
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Western Geographic Science Center
Description 105030, 15 p.
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