Fractional tree canopy cover for Murray-Darling Basin wetlands

This dataset contains yearly fractional tree canopy cover (FTCC, %) data at 20 meter spatial resolution from 2016 to 2022 for Murray-Darling Basin wetlands. A machine learning model was created to predict FTCC using optical and radar satellite. This model was subjected to validation using tree canopy cover data extracted from LiDAR data. The model achieved a remarkable 85% explanatory capacity regarding FTCC variations, with an associated error rate of 8%.\n\nThe fine-scale FTCC will be of value to catchment management concerns such as altered catchment water yields related to bushfires.\nLineage: A novel method was developed to derive tree fractional canopy cover (FTCC) at 20 m resolution in semi-arid and arid floodplain areas. The method employs LiDAR as a canopy area field measurement proxy (10 m resolution). Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 (radar and multispectral imagery) were used in Random Forest analysis, undertaken to develop a predictive FTCC model trained using LiDAR for two regions in the Murray–Darling Basin. \n\nDetailed method refers to Gao, S. (2020). Fine scale mapping of fractional tree canopy cover to support river basin management. Hydrological Processes (https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14156).