Spatial and Temporal Accuracy Analysis of MODIS Imagesin Fire Detection

In this study, the spatial and temporal accuracy of MODIS images for fire detection is analyzed. For this, previously detected fire by this sensor can be used and by determining standard deviation ellipse for these spots, its accuracy can be calculated. In this study, to evaluate geometric accuracy of MODIS images for fire spot detection, 5127 fire spots of 20 oil wells which are burning during year, were studied. At first geometrical characteristics of selected fires were determined, then characteristic of fire spots revealed by MODIS in above regions were determined for 2008 and for each collected data,shape file were provided. Then standard deviation ellipses for all spots were determined. Results show that standard deviation mean for these spots is 697.04 m. Also by calculating the amount of average RMS for center of ellipse coordinate produce by detected fire spots and ground coordinate of those spots is 161.64 m. Average rotation of standard deviation ellipse is 74 degrees which indicates that spatial errors are more in perpendicular direction to the satellite path. In other words, detected fireshave more accuracy in scan direction against satellite path direction. Also, the most of the fires are detected during 18 to 19 and the least during 9-10 AM Greenwich times. By examining recorded fire by MODIS on monthly basis, it was revealed that in the first half of the year from ‘Farvardin’ to ‘Mehr’, there is more chance for fire detection than in the second half of the year.