Change in Vegetation: Nebaj & Acul, 1979-2000
A reliable method often used to quantify intense changes to a landscape is by comparing NDVI supervised classifications and their accompanying area summary reports. For the Nebaj & Acul region of the Ixil Triangle, three supervised class regions were designated to represent: “heavy vegetation” (heavily-wooded areas); “medium vegetation” (agriculture, mixed vegetation, and disbursed vegetation); and “light to no vegetation” (open ground, exposed soil, urban areas, roads, and perimeter vegetation) in the false colors representation red, salmon, and turquoise respectively. The results can be viewed in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and the accompanying area summary reports (Table 1).
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Nebaj & Acul Region Summary Reports (Figures 1, 2 & 3)
Area Summary Report for 02/06/1979 MSS NDVI Classified |
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| Class/Region | Hectares | Sq. Km | Acres | Sq. Miles |
| Heavy Vegetation | 3520.127 | 35.201 | 8698.423 | 13.591 |
| Medium Vegetation | 2223.105 | 22.231 | 5493.413 | 8.583 |
| Light to No Vegetation | 236.738 | 2.367 | 584.992 | 0.914 |
| All | 5981.409 | 59.814 | 14780.385 | 23.094 |
Area Summary Report for 03/13/1986 MSS NDVI Classified |
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| Class/Region | Hectares | Sq. Km | Acres | Sq. Miles |
| Heavy Vegetation | 1984.002 | 19.840 | 4902.576 | 7.660 |
| Medium Vegetation | 2240.186 | 22.402 | 5535.619 | 8.649 |
| Light to No Vegetation | 1742.357 | 17.424 | 4305.459 | 6.727 |
| All | 5981.409 | 59.814 | 14780.385 | 23.094 |
| Area Summary Report for 01/23/2000 MSS NDVI Classified | ||||
| Class/Region | Hectares | Sq. Km | Acres | Sq. Miles |
| Heavy Vegetation | 1758.440 | 17.584 | 4345.200 | 6.789 |
| Medium Vegetation | 2906.312 | 29.063 | 7181.653 | 11.221 |
| Light to No Vegetation | 1308.210 | 13.082 | 3232.657 | 5.051 |
| All | 5981.409 | 59.814 | 14780.385 | 23.094 |
Table 1.
