Wetland vegetation change detection using high resolution aircraft MSS (multispectral scanner) data

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6928589

Christensen, E J; Jensen, J R; Ramsey, E W; Mackey, Jr, H E

Portions of the Savannah River floodplain were evaluated for wetland vegetation change using high-resolution (5.6 x 5.6 meter pixel) aircraft multispectral scanner (MSS) data. Image distortion from aircraft movement prevented precise image-to-image registration in some areas. However, when small scenes were used (190 to 240 hectares), a first-order linear transformation provided registration accuracies less than or equal to one pixel. A larger area was successfully registered using a piecewise linear method. Five wetland classes and one transitional community were indentified and evaluated for change. Phenological differences and the variable distribution of vegetation limited wetland type discrimination. Using unsupervised methods and ground-collected vegetation data, overall classification accuracies ranged from 84 to 87 percent for each scene. A post-classification change analysis identified wetlands transformations in some areas. Cypress-tupelo swamp forest was commonly replaced by more thermally and flood-tolerant marsh species. In areas where cooling water releases were discontinued, invasion by scrub/shrub communities occurred. Results show that multi-date, high-resolution aircraft MSS data can be registered if small areas are used, and that wetland vegetation change can be accurately detected and monitored. 33 refs., 6 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 6928589
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-86-32; CONF-8609381-1; ON: DE88014302
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220503* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Environmental Aspects-- Chemical & Thermal Effluents
AERIAL SURVEYING
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
DISTRIBUTION
ECOSYSTEMS
EVALUATION
MULTISPECTRAL PHOTOGRAPHY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPTIMIZATION
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLANTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
REMOTE SENSING
RESOLUTION
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VARIATIONS
WETLANDS