Self-Adaptive Gradient-Based Thresholding Method for Coal Fire Detection Based on ASTER Data - Part 2, Validation and Sensitivity Analysis

The self-adaptive gradient-based thresholding (SAGBT) method is a simple non-interactive coal fire detection approach involving segmentation and a threshold identification algorithm that adapts to the spatial distribution of thermal features over a landscape. SAGBT detects coal fire using multispectral thermal images acquired by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor. The method was detailed by our previous work “Self-Adaptive Gradient-Based Thresholding Method for Coal Fire Detection Based on ASTER Data—Part 1, Methodology”. The current study evaluates the performance of SAGBT and validates its results by using ASTER thermal infrared (TIR) images and ground temperature data collected at the Wuda coalfield (China) during satellite overpass. We further analyzed algorithm performance by OPEN ACCESS Remote Sens. 2015, 7 2603 using nighttime TIR images and images from different seasons. SAGBT-derived fires matched fire spots measured in the field with an average offset of 32.44 m and a matching rate of 70%–85%. Coal fire areas from TIR images generally agreed with coal-related anomalies from visible-near infrared (VNIR) images. Further, high-temperature pixels in the ASTER image matched observed coal fire areas, including the major extreme high-temperature regions derived from field samples. Finally, coal fires detected by daytime and by nighttime images were found to have similar spatial distributions, although fires differ in shape and size. Results included the stratification of our study site into two temperature groups (high and low temperature), using a fire boundary. We conclude that SAGBT can be successfully used for coal fire detection and analysis at our study site.