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i.vi - Calculates different types of vegetation indices.
Contents
Description
i.vi calculates vegetation indices based on biophysical parameters.
• ARVI: Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index
• CI: Crust Index
• DVI: Difference Vegetation Index
• EVI: Enhanced Vegetation Index
• EVI2: Enhanced Vegetation Index 2
• GARI: Green atmospherically resistant vegetation index
• GEMI: Global Environmental Monitoring Index
• GVI: Green Vegetation Index
• IPVI: Infrared Percentage Vegetation Index
• MSAVI2: second Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index
• MSAVI: Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index
• NDVI: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
• NDWI: Normalized Difference Water Index
• PVI: Perpendicular Vegetation Index
• RVI: ratio vegetation index
• SAVI: Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index
• SR: Simple Vegetation ratio
• WDVI: Weighted Difference Vegetation Index
Backgroundforusersnewtoremotesensing
Vegetation Indices are often considered the entry point of remote sensing for Earth land monitoring. They
are suffering from their success, in terms that often people tend to harvest satellite images from online
sources and use them directly in this module.
From Digital number to Radiance:
Satellite imagery is commonly stored in Digital Number (DN) for storage purposes; e.g., Landsat5 data is
stored in 8bit values (ranging from 0 to 255), other satellites maybe stored in 10 or 16 bits. If the
data is provided in DN, this implies that this imagery is "uncorrected". What this means is that the
image is what the satellite sees at its position and altitude in space (stored in DN). This is not the
signal at ground yet. We call this data at-satellite or at-sensor. Encoded in the 8bits (or more) is the
amount of energy sensed by the sensor inside the satellite platform. This energy is called
radiance-at-sensor. Generally, satellites image providers encode the radiance-at-sensor into 8bit (or
more) through an affine transform equation (y=ax+b). In case of using Landsat imagery, look at the
i.landsat.toar for an easy way to transform DN to radiance-at-sensor. If using Aster data, try the
i.aster.toar module.
From Radiance to Reflectance:
Finally, once having obtained the radiance at sensor values, still the atmosphere is between sensor and
Earth’s surface. This fact needs to be corrected to account for the atmospheric interaction with the sun
energy that the vegetation reflects back into space. This can be done in two ways for Landsat. The
simple way is through i.landsat.toar, use e.g. the DOS correction. The more accurate way is by using
i.atcorr (which works for many satellite sensors). Once the atmospheric correction has been applied to
the satellite data, data vales are called surface reflectance. Surface reflectance is ranging from 0.0
to 1.0 theoretically (and absolutely). This level of data correction is the proper level of correction to
use with i.vi.
VegetationIndicesARVI:AtmosphericResistantVegetationIndex
ARVI is resistant to atmospheric effects (in comparison to the NDVI) and is accomplished by a self
correcting process for the atmospheric effect in the red channel, using the difference in the radiance
between the blue and the red channels (Kaufman and Tanre 1996).
arvi( redchan, nirchan, bluechan )
ARVI = (nirchan - (2.0*redchan - bluechan)) /
( nirchan + (2.0*redchan - bluechan))
CI:CrustIndex
Advantage is taken of a unique spectral feature of soil biogenic crust containing cyanobacteria. It has
been shown that the special phycobilin pigment in cyanobacteria contributes in producing a relatively
higher reflectance in the blue spectral region than the same type of substrate without the biogenic
crust. The spectral crust index (CI) is based on the normalized difference between the RED and the BLUE
spectral values (Karnieli, 1997, DOI: 10.1080/014311697218368).
ci ( bluechan, redchan )
CI = 1 - (redchan - bluechan) /
(redchan + bluechan)
DVI:DifferenceVegetationIndex
dvi( redchan, nirchan )
DVI = ( nirchan - redchan )
EVI:EnhancedVegetationIndex
The enhanced vegetation index (EVI) is an optimized index designed to enhance the vegetation signal with
improved sensitivity in high biomass regions and improved vegetation monitoring through a de-coupling of
the canopy background signal and a reduction in atmosphere influences (Huete A.R., Liu H.Q., Batchily K.,
van Leeuwen W. (1997). A comparison of vegetation indices global set of TM images for EOS-MODIS. Remote
Sensing of Environment, 59:440-451).
evi( bluechan, redchan, nirchan )
EVI = 2.5 * ( nirchan - redchan ) /
( nirchan + 6.0 * redchan - 7.5 * bluechan + 1.0 )
EVI2:EnhancedVegetationIndex2
A 2-band EVI (EVI2), without a blue band, which has the best similarity with the 3-band EVI, particularly
when atmospheric effects are insignificant and data quality is good (Zhangyan Jiang ; Alfredo R. Huete ;
Youngwook Kim and Kamel Didan 2-band enhanced vegetation index without a blue band and its application to
AVHRR data. Proc. SPIE 6679, Remote Sensing and Modeling of Ecosystems for Sustainability IV, 667905
(october 09, 2007) doi:10.1117/12.734933).
evi2( redchan, nirchan )
EVI2 = 2.5 * ( nirchan - redchan ) /
( nirchan + 2.4 * redchan + 1.0 )
GARI:greenatmosphericallyresistantvegetationindex
The formula was actually defined: Gitelson, Anatoly A.; Kaufman, Yoram J.; Merzlyak, Mark N. (1996) Use
of a green channel in remote sensing of global vegetation from EOS- MODIS, Remote Sensing of Environment
58 (3), 289-298. doi:10.1016/s0034-4257(96)00072-7
gari( redchan, nirchan, bluechan, greenchan )
GARI = ( nirchan - (greenchan - (bluechan - redchan))) /
( nirchan + (greenchan - (bluechan - redchan)))
GEMI:GlobalEnvironmentalMonitoringIndex
gemi( redchan, nirchan )
GEMI = (( (2*((nirchan * nirchan)-(redchan * redchan)) +
1.5*nirchan+0.5*redchan) / (nirchan + redchan + 0.5)) *
(1 - 0.25 * (2*((nirchan * nirchan)-(redchan * redchan)) +
1.5*nirchan+0.5*redchan) / (nirchan + redchan + 0.5))) -
( (redchan - 0.125) / (1 - redchan))
GVI:GreenVegetationIndex
gvi( bluechan, greenchan, redchan, nirchan, chan5chan, chan7chan)
GVI = ( -0.2848 * bluechan - 0.2435 * greenchan -
0.5436 * redchan + 0.7243 * nirchan + 0.0840 * chan5chan-
0.1800 * chan7chan)
IPVI:InfraredPercentageVegetationIndex
ipvi( redchan, nirchan )
IPVI = nirchan/(nirchan+redchan)
MSAVI2:secondModifiedSoilAdjustedVegetationIndex
msavi2( redchan, nirchan )
MSAVI2 = (1/2)*(2*NIR+1-sqrt((2*NIR+1)^2-8*(NIR-red)))
MSAVI:ModifiedSoilAdjustedVegetationIndex
msavi( redchan, nirchan )
MSAVI = s(NIR-s*red-a) / (a*NIR+red-a*s+X*(1+s*s))
where a is the soil line intercept, s is the soil line slope, and X is an adjustment factor which is
set to minimize soil noise (0.08 in original papers).
NDVI:NormalizedDifferenceVegetationIndex
ndvi( redchan, nirchan )
Satellite specific band numbers ([NIR, Red]):
MSS Bands = [ 7, 5]
TM1-5,7 Bands = [ 4, 3]
TM8 Bands = [ 5, 4]
Sentinel-2 Bands = [ 8, 4]
AVHRR Bands = [ 2, 1]
SPOT XS Bands = [ 3, 2]
AVIRIS Bands = [51, 29]
NDVI = (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red)
NDWI:NormalizedDifferenceWaterIndex (after McFeeters, 1996)
This index is suitable to detect water bodies.
ndwi( greenchan, nirchan )
NDWI = (green - NIR) / (green + NIR)
The water content of leaves can be estimated with another NDWI (after Gao, 1996):
ndwi( greenchan, nirchan )
NDWI = (NIR - SWIR) / (NIR + SWIR)
This index is important for monitoring vegetation health (not implemented).
PVI:PerpendicularVegetationIndex
pvi( redchan, nirchan, soil_line_slope )
PVI = sin(a)NIR-cos(a)red
SAVI:SoilAdjustedVegetationIndex
savi( redchan, nirchan )
SAVI = ((1.0+0.5)*(nirchan - redchan)) / (nirchan + redchan +0.5)
SR:SimpleVegetationratio
sr( redchan, nirchan )
SR = (nirchan/redchan)
VARI:VisibleAtmosphericallyResistantIndex VARI was designed to introduce an atmospheric
self-correction (Gitelson A.A., Kaufman Y.J., Stark R., Rundquist D., 2002. Novel algorithms for
estimation of vegetation fraction Remote Sensing of Environment (80), pp76-87.)
vari = ( bluechan, greenchan, redchan )
VARI = (green - red ) / (green + red - blue)
WDVI:WeightedDifferenceVegetationIndex
wdvi( redchan, nirchan, soil_line_weight )
WDVI = nirchan - a * redchan
if(soil_weight_line == None):
a = 1.0 #slope of soil line
Examples
CalculationofDVI
The calculation of DVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.1 -p
i.vi blue=band.1 red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=dvi output=dvi
r.univar -e dvi
CalculationofEVI
The calculation of EVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.1 -p
i.vi blue=band.1 red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=evi output=evi
r.univar -e evi
CalculationofEVI2
The calculation of EVI2 from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=evi2 output=evi2
r.univar -e evi2
CalculationofGARI
The calculation of GARI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.1 -p
i.vi blue=band.1 green=band.2 red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=gari output=gari
r.univar -e gari
CalculationofGEMI
The calculation of GEMI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=gemi output=gemi
r.univar -e gemi
CalculationofGVI
The calculation of GVI (Green Vegetation Index - Tasseled Cap) from the reflectance values is done as
follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
# assuming Landsat-7
i.vi blue=band.1 green=band.2 red=band.3 nir=band.4 band5=band.5 band7=band.7 viname=gvi output=gvi
r.univar -e gvi
CalculationofIPVI
The calculation of IPVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=ipvi output=ipvi
r.univar -e ipvi
CalculationofMSAVI
The calculation of MSAVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=msavi output=msavi
r.univar -e msavi
CalculationofNDVI
The calculation of NDVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=ndvi output=ndvi
r.univar -e ndvi
CalculationofNDWI
The calculation of NDWI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.2 -p
i.vi green=band.2 nir=band.4 viname=ndwi output=ndwi
r.colors ndwi color=byg -n
r.univar -e ndwi
CalculationofPVI
The calculation of PVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 soil_line_slope=0.45 viname=pvi output=pvi
r.univar -e pvi
CalculationofSAVI
The calculation of SAVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=savi output=savi
r.univar -e savi
CalculationofSR
The calculation of SR from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi red=band.3 nir=band.4 viname=sr output=sr
r.univar -e sr
CalculationofVARI
The calculation of VARI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=band.3 -p
i.vi blue=band.2 green=band.3 red=band.4 viname=vari output=vari
r.univar -e vari
LandsatTM7example
The following examples are based on a LANDSAT TM7 scene included in the North Carolina sample dataset.
Preparation:DNtoreflectance
As a first step, the original DN (digital number) pixel values must be converted to reflectance using
i.landsat.toar. To do so, we make a copy (or rename the channels) to match i.landsat.toar’s input scheme:
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_10,lsat7_2002.1
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_20,lsat7_2002.2
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_30,lsat7_2002.3
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_40,lsat7_2002.4
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_50,lsat7_2002.5
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_61,lsat7_2002.61
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_62,lsat7_2002.62
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_70,lsat7_2002.7
g.copy raster=lsat7_2002_80,lsat7_2002.8
Calculation of reflectance values from DN using DOS1 (metadata obtained from p016r035_7x20020524.met.gz):
i.landsat.toar input=lsat7_2002. output=lsat7_2002_toar. sensor=tm7 \
method=dos1 date=2002-05-24 sun_elevation=64.7730999 \
product_date=2004-02-12 gain=HHHLHLHHL
The resulting Landsat channels are names lsat7_2002_toar.1 .. lsat7_2002_toar.8.
CalculationofNDVI
The calculation of NDVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=lsat7_2002_toar.3 -p
i.vi red=lsat7_2002_toar.3 nir=lsat7_2002_toar.4 viname=ndvi \
output=lsat7_2002.ndvi
r.colors lsat7_2002.ndvi color=ndvi
d.mon wx0
d.rast.leg lsat7_2002.ndvi
North Carolina dataset: NDVI
CalculationofARVI
The calculation of ARVI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=lsat7_2002_toar.3 -p
i.vi blue=lsat7_2002_toar.1 red=lsat7_2002_toar.3 nir=lsat7_2002_toar.4 \
viname=arvi output=lsat7_2002.arvi
d.mon wx0
d.rast.leg lsat7_2002.arvi
North Carolina dataset: ARVI
CalculationofGARI
The calculation of GARI from the reflectance values is done as follows:
g.region raster=lsat7_2002_toar.3 -p
i.vi blue=lsat7_2002_toar.1 green=lsat7_2002_toar.2 red=lsat7_2002_toar.3 \
nir=lsat7_2002_toar.4 viname=gari output=lsat7_2002.gari
d.mon wx0
d.rast.leg lsat7_2002.gari
North Carolina dataset: GARI
Keywords
imagery, vegetation index, biophysical parameters, NDVI
Name
i.vi - Calculates different types of vegetation indices.
Uses red and nir bands mostly, and some indices require additional bands.
Notes
Originally from kepler.gps.caltech.edu (FAQ):
A FAQ on Vegetation in Remote Sensing
Written by Terrill W. Ray, Div. of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology,
email: terrill@mars1.gps.caltech.edu
Snail Mail: Terrill Ray
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Caltech, Mail Code 170-25
Pasadena, CA 91125
References
AVHRR, Landsat TM5:
• Bastiaanssen, W.G.M., 1995. Regionalization of surface flux densities and moisture indicators in
composite terrain; a remote sensing approach under clear skies in mediterranean climates. PhD
thesis, Wageningen Agricultural Univ., The Netherland, 271 pp. (PDF)
• Index DataBase: List of available Indices
See Also
i.albedo,i.aster.toar,i.landsat.toar,i.atcorr,i.tasscap
Source Code
Available at: i.vi source code (history)
Accessed: Friday Apr 04 01:21:05 2025
Main index | Imagery index | Topics index | Keywords index | Graphical index | Full index
© 2003-2025 GRASS Development Team, GRASS GIS 8.4.1 Reference Manual
GRASS 8.4.1 i.vi(1grass)
Synopsis
i.vii.vi--helpi.vioutput=nameviname=type [red=name] [nir=name] [green=name] [blue=name] [band5=name]
[band7=name] [soil_line_slope=float] [soil_line_intercept=float] [soil_noise_reduction=float]
[storage_bit=integer] [--overwrite] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]
Flags:--overwrite
Allow output files to overwrite existing files
--help
Print usage summary
--verbose
Verbose module output
--quiet
Quiet module output
--ui
Force launching GUI dialog
Parameters:output=name[required]
Name for output raster map
viname=type[required]
Type of vegetation index
Options: arvi,ci,dvi,evi,evi2,gvi,gari,gemi,ipvi,msavi,msavi2,ndvi,ndwi,pvi,savi,sr,vari,wdvi
Default: ndviarvi: Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index
ci: Crust Index
dvi: Difference Vegetation Index
evi: Enhanced Vegetation Index
evi2: Enhanced Vegetation Index 2
gvi: Green Vegetation Index
gari: Green Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index
gemi: Global Environmental Monitoring Index
ipvi: Infrared Percentage Vegetation Index
msavi: Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index
msavi2: second Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index
ndvi: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
ndwi: Normalized Difference Water Index
pvi: Perpendicular Vegetation Index
savi: Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index
sr: Simple Ratio
vari: Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index
wdvi: Weighted Difference Vegetation Index
red=name
Name of input red channel surface reflectance map
Range: [0.0;1.0]
nir=name
Name of input nir channel surface reflectance map
Range: [0.0;1.0]
green=name
Name of input green channel surface reflectance map
Range: [0.0;1.0]
blue=name
Name of input blue channel surface reflectance map
Range: [0.0;1.0]
band5=name
Name of input 5th channel surface reflectance map
Range: [0.0;1.0]
band7=name
Name of input 7th channel surface reflectance map
Range: [0.0;1.0]
soil_line_slope=float
Value of the slope of the soil line (MSAVI and PVI only)
soil_line_intercept=float
Value of the intercept of the soil line (MSAVI only)
soil_noise_reduction=float
Value of the factor of reduction of soil noise (MSAVI only)
storage_bit=integer
Maximum bits for digital numbers
If data is in Digital Numbers (i.e. integer type), give the max bits (i.e. 8 for Landsat -> [0-255])
Options: 7,8,10,16
Default: 8
PNG Icons
Emojis