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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #429820
Research Project: Knowledge Systems and Tools to Increase the Resilience and Sustainability of Western Rangeland Agriculture

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Estimating rangeland fractional cover and canopy gap size class with Sentinel-2 imagery

Author
item McCord, Sarah
item ALLRED, BRADY - University Of Montana
item ASSAL, TIMOTHY - Bureau Of Land Management
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item Boyd, Chad
item BROOKS, ALEXANDER - Desert Research Institute
item CADY, SAMANTHA - University Of Nebraska-Lincoln
item DUNIWAY, MICHAEL - Us Geological Survey
item FUHLEDORF, SAMUEL - Oklahoma State University
item GREEN, SHANE - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item Harrison, Georgia
item JENSEN, ERIC - Desert Research Institute
item KACHERGIS, EMILY - Bureau Of Land Management
item KNIGHT, ANNA - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item MATTILIO, CHLOE - University Of Wyoming
item MEALOR, BRIAN - University Of Wyoming
item NAUGLE, DAVID - University Of Montana
item OLEARY, DYLAN - Oregon State University
item Olsoy, Peter
item Peirce, Erika
item REINHARDT, JASON - Us Forest Service (FS)
item SHRIVER, ROBERT - University Of Nevada School Of Medicine
item SMITH, JOSEPH - University Of Montana
item TACK, JASON - Fisheries & Wildlife
item TANNER, ASHLEY - Wildlife Center
item TANNER, EVAN - Wildlife Center
item TWIDWELL, DIRAC - University Of Nebraska-Lincoln
item Webb, Nicholas
item MORFORD, SCOTT - University Of Montana

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2026
Publication Date: 7/11/2026
Citation: McCord, S.E., Allred, B., Assal, T.J., Bestelmeyer, B.T., Boyd, C.S., Brooks, A.C., Cady, S.M., Duniway, M.C., Fuhledorf, S.D., Green, S.A., Harrison, G.R., Jensen, E.R., Kachergis, E.J., Knight, A.C., Mattilio, C.M., Mealor, B.A., Naugle, D.E., Oleary, D., Olsoy, P.J., Peirce, E.S., Reinhardt, J.R., Shriver, R.K., Smith, J.T., Tack, J.D., Tanner, A.M., Tanner, E.P., Twidwell, D., Webb, N.P., Morford, S.L. 2026. Estimating rangeland fractional cover and canopy gap size class with Sentinel-2 imagery. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rangelands are extensive ecosystems, providing important ecosystem services while undergoing continuous change. This creates an urgent need for monitoring technologies that can characterize vegetation dynamics across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Satellite remote sensing has proven effective for tracking these changes at both broad and fine resolutions. Since 2018, the Rangeland Analysis Platform has used Landsat imagery to assess rangeland condition and trends at 30-m resolution from 1986 to present. Recent technological advancements now allow us to detect more subtle but ecologically important changes. We used Sentinel-2 satellites improved spatial (10m), spectral, and temporal resolution to estimate fractional cover and the map the size distribution of plant inter-canopy gaps across western U.S. rangelands. Our approach employs a one-dimensional convolutional neural network on extensive field data to predict cover of plant functional types, select genera, and canopy gap size classes. We produced annual, 10-m resolution maps from 2018 to 2024, creating a new resource for monitoring rangeland condition and evaluating management effectiveness at scales relevant to ecological processes and management decisions.