Monday, August 5, 2013: 2:10 PM
101J, Minneapolis Convention Center
Background/Question/Methods
Forested riparian buffers (FRB) maintain the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems, performing numerous critical ecosystem services. However, globally, FRBs have been modified by anthropogenic development resulting in widespread ecological degradation (fragmentation and loss). FRB width and degree of fragmentation are two commonly measured ecological integrity indicators and are important proxy measures of water quality and wildlife habitat and diversity.
However, despite the importance of monitoring FRB cover, methodology to accurately and efficiently quantify FRB width at the watershed scale is lacking. In situ measurements are time consuming and often limit geographic analysis extent. Remote sensing methods can facilitate landscape scale analysis, yet accurate detection is challenging given FRB corridors are often more narrow than the most commonly used remote sensing pixel (Landsat). Detection error can in turn significantly bias ecosystem service assessment and associated management and restoration efforts. Increased availability of high resolution light detection and ranging data (lidar) offers an unique opportunity to detect and monitor narrow FRB corridors and in turn improve the accuracy of ecosystem service assessment.
This presentation will review: 1) multiple methods to detect FRB corridors using vegetation cover derived from high resolution airborne light detection and ranging data (lidar), Landsat data and high resolution aerial photography and 2) data method influences on derived vegetation cover and fragmentation estimates and associated ecosystem service assessment. It will further introduce an automated algorithm that can efficiently detect FRB width using remotely sensed data in ecological analysis.
Results/Conclusions
Strong correspondence is observed between lidar derived FRB cover estimates and cover estimates derived using manual methods (in situ and aerial photo). Thus lidar is an effective tool in estimating numerous ecosystem services. Conventionally used Landsat methods show weak correlation with manual derivation methods, underestimating FRB cover in areas of narrow FRB cover and mixed landuse types. Thus, while Landsat is one of the most commonly used remote sensing tools in ecological analysis, it is prone to significant under and overestimation of FRB ecosystem services and thus may not be sufficient to support ecologically sound management decisions. Results further demonstrate the use of automated methods to significantly reduce processing time and facilitate essential watershed scale mapping of FRB cover in support of ecological assessment.
Forested riparian buffers (FRB) maintain the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems, performing numerous critical ecosystem services. However, globally, FRBs have been modified by anthropogenic development resulting in widespread ecological degradation (fragmentation and loss). FRB width and degree of fragmentation are two commonly measured ecological integrity indicators and are important proxy measures of water quality and wildlife habitat and diversity.
However, despite the importance of monitoring FRB cover, methodology to accurately and efficiently quantify FRB width at the watershed scale is lacking. In situ measurements are time consuming and often limit geographic analysis extent. Remote sensing methods can facilitate landscape scale analysis, yet accurate detection is challenging given FRB corridors are often more narrow than the most commonly used remote sensing pixel (Landsat). Detection error can in turn significantly bias ecosystem service assessment and associated management and restoration efforts. Increased availability of high resolution light detection and ranging data (lidar) offers an unique opportunity to detect and monitor narrow FRB corridors and in turn improve the accuracy of ecosystem service assessment.
This presentation will review: 1) multiple methods to detect FRB corridors using vegetation cover derived from high resolution airborne light detection and ranging data (lidar), Landsat data and high resolution aerial photography and 2) data method influences on derived vegetation cover and fragmentation estimates and associated ecosystem service assessment. It will further introduce an automated algorithm that can efficiently detect FRB width using remotely sensed data in ecological analysis.
Results/Conclusions
Strong correspondence is observed between lidar derived FRB cover estimates and cover estimates derived using manual methods (in situ and aerial photo). Thus lidar is an effective tool in estimating numerous ecosystem services. Conventionally used Landsat methods show weak correlation with manual derivation methods, underestimating FRB cover in areas of narrow FRB cover and mixed landuse types. Thus, while Landsat is one of the most commonly used remote sensing tools in ecological analysis, it is prone to significant under and overestimation of FRB ecosystem services and thus may not be sufficient to support ecologically sound management decisions. Results further demonstrate the use of automated methods to significantly reduce processing time and facilitate essential watershed scale mapping of FRB cover in support of ecological assessment.