The HiForm forest change tool uses Google Earth Engine (GEE) to map changes in greenness, specifically, changes in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). HiForm allows users to quickly explore changes in vegetation condition between two time periods, using Landsat or Sentinel 2 satellite imagery. HiForm can use maximum-value compositing across multiple dates to reduce the negative effects of clouds and cloud shadows made apparent in the NDVI change product that gets produced. The two periods used to calculate NDVI change can be as short as only a few weeks, or over an entire season, or across a year, or multiple years.   

The cloud-free quality of the 'pre-' and 'post-disturbance' time periods are easily assessed by viewing their 'true-color' representation selectable in the data layers list.  Use this workflow (for previewing the dates selected) as an iterative process to visually obtain the most cloud-free inputs possible.  Sometimes clouds cannot be avoided, so viewing the pre/post 'natural color' products in conjunction with the NDVI change product can identify those areas where false NDVI change may have occurred as a result of clouds, shadows.
 
HiForm ver. 2.0  Enhanced Forest NDVI change application with polygon export (requires a GEE account)
  https://code.earthengine.google.com/b5634d16487ab9b16ea69c4a437dcbc2
    see Resources #1 below for export formats and capabilities

HiForm ver. 1.0  Forest NDVI change application with user interface (requires a GEE account)
  https://code.earthengine.google.com/30716a21481b498c1f9c66493febd2f7
    see Resources #2 below for export formats and capabilities


Sign up for a Google Earth Engine account:

• non-Forest Service users (exports save to Google-Drive)
  - sign up at https://earthengine.google.com
  - Google Chrome download
   
• Forest Service users (exports save to FS Google Cloud Storage)
  - SharePoint; Request form
  - For questions about GEE with your USDA account: SM.FS.GTAC@usda.gov
  - USFS Knowledge Base: https://usfs.app.box.com/s/27997l4jeixnvpfzt5ij9fsyymlwlfzm
  - Saving to Google Cloud Storage
  
   

EXAMPLE WORKFLOW (using the HiForm script)

A popular way to quickly get a quality 1-year NDVI change product, is to use the previous year's full growing season as the 'pre-disturbance' baseline.  For example, enter 2021-07-15 in the first 'pre' date box, then enter 2021-09-15 in the second 'pre' date box.  For the 'post-disturbance' date(s), use 'RESOURCES #7' below to find the most cloud free image date(s).  In the 'post' date windows, when denoting a single date, start with entering the exact date of the cloud free image in the first 'post' box, then add a day to the date for entry into the second 'post' date box. For example, if your single cloud free 'post' date is 08-07-2022, enter 2022-08-07 in the first 'post' date box, then enter 2022-08-08 in the second 'post' date box (that's the way EE needs it, when denoting the use of a single date of imagery). After that, select "Do the change analysis" to view your results.  Alternatively, for the post-date selection, you can always use a range of dates and allow the software to choose the most cloud free pixels over that date range; that process results in creating a single 'post-disturbance' image that will be used to calculate NDVI change.  Remember to toggle the 'post natural color image' (under 'Layers'), along with the NDVI change image, to see if clouds and cloud shadows are responsible for causing 'false' NDVI change.  


RESOURCES

1. Users Guide for version 2.0 (FS) (non-FS):

   Script can export: (1) forest-only NDVI change image, format: a 3-band RGB raster with the color map burnt into the image (photo-like), (2) 10m post-disturbance image, enhance-able 3-band natural color, and (3) your hand-drawn polygon(s) of NDVI change
    

2. Users Guide for version 1.0 (FS) (non-FS):

   Script can export: (1) 'all-lands' NDVI change image, format: a single-band continuous greyscale, signed 16-bit raster, requires a color map to replicate the HiForm color ramp of NDVI change (requires a forest mask be applied to isolate forest-only change); this product can be used to threshold and isolate a specific range of NDVI change values; selecting the button "Export image to Drive" automatically executes the task of exporting the 'all-lands' NDVI change.
    

3. HiForm Legend (absolute)  (percent)
    
4. 'Color map' file (esri .clr) for the ndvi change download
    
5. HiForm Logo
    
6. HiForm on AGOL (select the layers icon to see the full table of contents)
    
7. Use the EO Browser to find dates of cloud free imagery
    

ADVANCED SCRIPTS (no user interface)

1. Export detailed forest disturbance polygons, link provided in the 'how-to' pdf
       - the example provided is from Forest Tent Caterpillar, Pearl River, LA, 04/17/2023
    
2. The "HiForm Timber Harvest BMP Tool" (script) ('how-to' ) (Project description)

PRESENTATIONS

• See the "About" page.