Using Remote Sensing to Detect Wetlands

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Using Remote Sensing to Detect Wetlands

• Chris Tyson
• Digital Imaging

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Why are wetlands important?

• Have several important functions to our
  ecosystem
• Biological diversity
• Wildlife Habitat
• kidneys of ecosystem filter for pollutants

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Wetlands in the U.S.

• More than half of total area of wetlands has
  been destroyed because of
• Agricultural
• Urban
• Industrial
• The USFWS has completed a National Wetlands
  Inventory using aerial photography

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Types of Wetlands

• Marshes
• Swamps
• Bogs
• Fens

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Why use remote sensing for wetlands?

• Birds eye view
• Can see parts beyond visible spectrum
• Frequently revisit certain areas
• Multi-stage observations

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How can remote sensing be used to benefit
wetlands?

• -Mapping -Vegetative Biomass
• -Monitor Pollution -Changes in Water
• 
  Levels

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What kinds of equipment are used in wetland
detection?

• Airborne cameras
• Satellite sensor systems
• Airborne multispectral and hyperspectral cameras.

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Airborne cameras

• Mounted to the belly of a plane
• Flown over area take pictures
• Effective for mapping
• High spatial resolution pictures
• Shown is an example of an aerial mounted camera

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Picture of wetlands using aircraft mounted camera
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Satellite Systems

• Can monitor large areas of wetlands
• Can measure waves beyond visible spectrum ( IR,
  UV) as well as pictures of visible spectrum
• Shown is ERS-1 SAR satellite
• Can produce pictures of medium spatial resolution

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Satellite Image of Mississippi River Delta
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Conclusion

• Remote Sensing has helped to successfully map and
  monitor wetlands
• Aircraft mounted and satellite type sensors are
  best for monitoring and detecting wetlands
• In the future, remote sensing will be an
  important part of protecting and preserving our
  wetlands.

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References

• Balser, Andrew W. Remote Sensing of Wetlands
  Within the Tanana
  
• Flats.Accessed April 12, 2005.
  
  
• http//www.cgc.uaf.edu/Newsletter/gg5_1/wetlan
  ds.html
• Coastal Remote Sensing Science. NCCOS Center
  for Sponsored
  
• Coastal Ocean
• Research. Accessed Apr. 12 2005.
  
  
  
• http//www.cop.noaa.gov/ecoforecasting/pas
  t/ef-crs.htmll
• Evaluation of Multidate ERS-1 and Multispectral
  Landsat Imagery
  
• for WetlandDetection in Southern
  Ontario. Remote Sensing
  
• Abstracts, Vol. 24, no 1. Accessed April
  14, 2005.
  
• http//www.casi.ca/98rsabs1.htm
• Goldberg, Jason. Remote Sensing of Wetlands
  Procedures and
  
• Considerations.

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References

• Accessed April 12, 2005. http//www.vims.edu/rmap
  .cers/tutorial/rsecol.htm
• Mackey, H.E., and J.R. Jensen. Remote Sensing of
  Wetlands Applications and
• Overview. Energy Citations Database.
  Accessed April 12, 2005.
• http//www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.bibli
  o.jsp?osti_id7156554
• Prigent, Catherine. Remote Sensing of Global
  Wetland Dynamics with Multiple Satellite
• Data Sets. Geophysical Research
  Letters, vol. 28, No. 24, pgs. 4361-4364.
• December 15, 2001.
• Wetlands. U.S. Environmental Protection
  Agency.
• Accessed April 12, 2005. http//www.epa.gov/owow/
  wetlands/vital.html