Chlorophyll content mapping of urban vegetation in the city of Valencia based on the hyperspectral NAOC index

•We propose a robust chlorophyll content (Chl) mapping method over urban vegetation.•We have calibrated SPAD-502 based on four urban tree species to measure Chl.•The spectral NAOC (Normalized Area Over reflectance Curve) index is related to Chl.•NAOC was calibrated and validated from airborne CASI data to map Chl over Valencia.•The method provides a quantitative bioindicator of urban vegetation's health status.

Spatially distributed chlorophyll content of urban vegetation provides an important indicator of a plant's health status, which might depend on the habitat quality of the specific urban environment. Recent advances in optical remote sensing led to improved methodologies to monitor vegetation properties. The hyperspectral index NAOC (Normalized Area Over reflectance Curve) is one of these new tools that can be used for mapping chlorophyll content. In this paper we present the work done to quantify vegetation chlorophyll content over the city of Valencia (Spain) based on chlorophyll measurements of four representative tree species: the London plane tree (Platanus x. acerifolia), the Canarian date palm (Phoenix canariensis), the European nettle tree (Celtis australis) and the white mulberry (Morus alba). Measurements were acquired during the summer of 2011, in a field campaign in which for 320 leaf samples, chlorophyll content was measured both in the laboratory and by using a SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter. Both methods were correlated (R2 > 0.86), using best fit power type functions. During the field campaign an aircraft with a CASI (Compact Airborne Spectral Imager) hyperspectral sensor onboard overflew the city obtaining imagery with a spatial resolution of ∼1 m suitable to identify individual urban trees. From the CASI data the NAOC index was calculated and linked with the laboratory chlorophyll content measurements. This led to a detailed chlorophyll content map with a RMSE of 15 μg cm−2. Chlorophyll map analysis at the individual crown level suggests the applicability to identify trees with lowered chlorophyll content due to a suboptimal habitat quality.