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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Pest Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156725

Title: RAPID FIELD ASSESSMENT OF RANGELANDS USING THE COAST DIGITAL IMAGING SYSTEM

Author
item Anderson, Gerald
item KIRBY, D - NDSU
item CLINE, D - ND DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
item KAVA, J - NDSU
item BUTLER, J - US FOREST SERVICE
item Kazmer, David

Submitted to: Biannual Workshop in Color Photography and Videography in Resource
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2003
Publication Date: 11/10/2005
Citation: Anderson, G.L., Kirby, D., Kline, D., Butler, J., Kazmer, D. 2004. Rapid field assessment of rangelands using COAST digital imaging system. In: Proceedings of the 19th Biennial Workshop on Color Photography Videography and Airborne Imaging for Resource Assessment. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, October 6-8, 2003, Logan, Utah. 2004 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Determining rangeland composition and trend is often difficult and time consuming. In the northern latitudes, ground assessment and monitoring is limited by the short growing season and the large amount of rangeland that must be assessed within a season. This manuscript reports the design and functionality of the COAST Digital Imaging System (Camera On A STick). The procedure uses a digital camera and rigorous sampling protocol to monitor foliar cover changes in leafy spurge. Results indicate that the procedure is more precise than other traditional sampling methods and can substantially increase the number of sites visited in a season. Much of the analytical work is shifted to the winter months when more time is available. This procedure increases the frequency of sampling, which provides a better representation of an area. The data also provides the opportunity to archive images for temporal analysis and to obtain additional information not thought necessary when the images were acquired.

Technical Abstract: Determining rangeland composition and trend is often difficult and time consuming. In the northern latitudes, ground assessment and monitoring is limited by the short growing season and the large amount of rangeland that must be assessed within a season. This manuscript reports the design and functionality of the COAST Digital Imaging System. The procedure uses a digital camera and rigorous sampling protocol to monitor foliar cover changes in leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). Results indicate that the procedure is more precise than the traditional Daubenmire sampling and can substantially increase the number of sites visited in a season. Much of the analytical work is shifted to the winter months when more time is available. This procedure increases the frequency of sampling, which provides a better statistical representation of an area. The data also provides the opportunity to archive images for temporal analysis and to obtain additional information not thought necessary when the images were acquired.