Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #87745
Title: DISTINGUISHING ECOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN A COASTAL AREA USING A VIDEO SYSTEMWITH VISIBLE/NEAR-INFRARED/MID-INFRARED SENSITIVITY

Author
item Everitt, James
item Escobar, David
item Alaniz, Mario
item Cavazos Iii, Isabel
item Davis, Michael
item LONARD, ROBERT - UT-PANAM EDINBURG,TX
item JUDD, FRANK - UT-PANAM,EDINBURG,TX
item HOCKADAY, DON - UT-PANAM,S.PADRE IS,TX

Submitted to: Journal of Coastal Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Improved methods are needed to assess and manage coastal resources. Over the past ten years airborne video imaging systems have been used as remote sensing tools to assess natural resources. A 3-camera video system capable of simulating Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery was evaluated for distinguishing among a diversity of ecological ground parameters in a coastal ecosystem on the southern Texas Gulf Coast. The video system was useful for differentiating among a variety of land-use types including plant species, soil surface conditions, and water. Computer analysis of the imagery indicated the potential to quantify many ecological ground variables. The video imagery was also useful for interpreting the coarser resolution satellite imagery. These findings should be useful to coastal zone resource managers.

Technical Abstract: This paper reports on the application of an aerial digital video imaging system with visible (VIS) (0.625-0.635 um), near-infrared (NIR) (0.845-0.857 um), and mid-infrared (MIR) (1.631-1.676 um) spectral sensitivity for distinguishing ecological parameters in a coastal ecosystem on the southern Texas Gulf Coast. This system produces false color imagery ysimilar to that of the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) bands 5,4,3. Imagery from this system was useful for differentiating among a variety of land-use types including plant species, soil surface conditions, and water. Computer analysis of the imagery showed that many of the ecological variables could be quantified. The imagery was also useful for interpreting the coarser resolution TM 5,4,3 satellite imagery. Ground radiometric reflectance measurements were made of various ecological parameters to assist in interpreting the imagery.