Geovisualization of Vegetation Patterns in National Parks of the Southeastern United States

Abstract

Over the past ten years, the Center for Remote Sensing and Mapping Science (CRMS) at The University of Georgia has worked cooperatively with the National Park Service to create digital vegetation databases for 21 National Parks, Preserves, Home Sites and Battlefields in the southeastern United States. These databases were created from manually interpreted large-scale color infrared aerial photographs using a combination of Global Positioning System (GPS) surveys, softcopy photogrammetry and GIS modeling procedures. Throughout the process, geovisualization techniques have been used to aid in the extraction and assessment of vegetation patterns, quality control evaluation and communication of information to managers and users of park resources. In one example, three-dimensional (3D) drapes of orthorectified images and vegetation maps were used to aid in the interpretation process by providing the interpreter with multiple 3D perspective views and information on elevation range, slope and aspect. Upon completion of the databases, geovisualization techniques also were used to qualitatively identify and assess areas prone to errors in the geometric orthorectification. In this way, geovisualization contributed to improvements in both the thematic and geometric accuracy of the National Park Service vegetation data sets. In another example, animations of spatio-temporal data sets and 3D drapes were developed to assess the impacts of surrounding development and land use changes on resources within park boundaries. Geovisualizations provided to the National Park Service are being used to prioritize the acquisition of additional lands to help preserve water quality and habitats of ecological importance.