Applying the dempster-shafer fusion theory to combine independent land-use maps: A case study on the mapping of oil palm plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia

Bethuel Carl, Arvor Damien, Corpetti Thomas, Helie Julia, Descals Adrià, Gaveau David L.A., Chéron-Bessou Cécile, Gignoux Jérémie, Corgne Samuel. 2025. Applying the dempster-shafer fusion theory to combine independent land-use maps: A case study on the mapping of oil palm plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia. Remote Sensing, 17 (2):234, 25 p.

https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17020234

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Url - autres données associées : https://github.com/CarlBethuel/Dempster-Shafer-work

Résumé : The remote sensing community benefits from new sensors and easier access to Earth Observation data to frequently released new land-cover maps. The propagation of such independent and heterogeneous products offers promising perspectives for various scientific domains and for the implementation and monitoring of land-use policies. Yet, it may also confuse the end-users when it comes to identifying the most appropriate product to address their requirements. Data fusion methods can help to combine competing and/or complementary maps in order to capitalize on their strengths while overcoming their limitations. We assessed the potential of the Dempster–Shafer Theory (DST) to enhance oil palm mapping in Sumatra (Indonesia) by combining four land-cover maps, hereafter named DESCALS, IIASA, XU, and MAPBIOMAS, according to the first author's name or the research group that published it. The application of DST relied on four steps: (1) a discernment framework, (2) the assignment of mass functions, (3) the DST fusion rule, and (4) the DST decision rule. Our results showed that the DST decision map achieved significantly higher accuracy (Kappa = 0.78) than the most accurate input product (Kappa = 0.724). The best result was reached by considering the probabilities of pixels to belong to the OP class associated with DESCALS map. In addition, the belief (i.e., confidence) and conflict (i.e., uncertainty) maps produced by DST evidenced that industrial plantations were detected with higher confidence than smallholder plantations. Consequently, Kappa values computed locally were lower in areas dominated by smallholder plantations. Combining land-use products with DST contributes to producing state-of-the-art maps and continuous information for enhanced land-cover analysis.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : télédétection, Elaeis guineensis, cartographie, cartographie de l'utilisation des terres, modèle mathématique, déboisement, plantations

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Indonésie, Sumatra

Mots-clés libres : Oil Palm Mapping, Dempster–Shafer theory, Data fusion, Indonesia

Agences de financement hors UE : Région Bretagne, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement

Projets sur financement : (FRA) Effets socioéconomiques et environnementaux de l'expansion des plantations de palmiers à huile en Indonésie, (FRA) SEMTI-SEN, (FRA) Ecole d'Economie de Paris

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