Abstract
Intertidal ecosystems have primarily been studied using field-based sampling; remote sensing offers the ability to collect data over large areas in a snapshot of time that could complement field-based sampling methods by extrapolating them into the wider spatial and temporal context. Conventional remote sensing tools (such as satellite and aircraft imaging) provide data at limited spatial and temporal resolutions and relatively high costs for small-scale environmental science and ecologically-focussed studies. In this paper, we describe a low-cost, kite-based imaging system and photogrammetric/mapping procedure that was developed for constructing high-resolution, three-dimensional, multi-spectral terrain models of intertidal rocky shores. The processing procedure uses automatic image feature detection and matching, structure-from-motion and photo-textured terrain surface reconstruction algorithms that require minimal human input and only a small number of ground control points and allow the use of cheap, consumer-grade digital cameras. The resulting maps combine imagery at visible and near-infrared wavelengths and topographic information at sub-centimeter resolutions over an intertidal shoreline 200 m long, thus enabling spatial properties of the intertidal environment to be determined across a hierarchy of spatial scales. Results of the system are presented for an intertidal rocky shore at Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Potential uses of this technique include mapping of plant (micro- and macro-algae) and animal (e.g. gastropods) assemblages at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Highlights
Plant and animal assemblages that live in intertidal regions such as rocky shores are part of a complex, dynamic ecosystem, the structure and functioning of which can vary across a cascade of spatial and temporal scales [1]
Potential Uses in Intertidal Ecology The results presented here demonstrate the ability of our technique for collecting relevant spatial variables and spectral variables at fine spatial scales and over a broad area in the intertidal environment
The visual features (i.e. Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT)) used to register images within a survey will be suitable for this process, the stability of these features is known to diminish when the time between images increases owing to smallscale changes in the imaged surface
Summary
Plant and animal assemblages that live in intertidal regions such as rocky shores are part of a complex, dynamic ecosystem, the structure and functioning of which can vary across a cascade of spatial and temporal scales [1]. Remote sensing is the ideal tool to collect contiguous data over large areas in a snapshot of time, conventional remote sensing platforms (i.e. satellites and mannedaircraft) provide data at relatively coarse spatial and temporal resolution. The low-resolution and high costs of targeted data collection (i.e. at a specific time and place) limits the effectiveness of conventional remote sensing in small-scale environmental science and ecologically-focussed studies. This data does not provide information on topographic variability at small scales (centimeters and meters), which is known to influence the distribution of assemblages of plant and animal species [10]
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