Updating the Map of Invasive Phragmites for the Great Lakes Coast

Session: 32. - Long-Term Monitoring: Achievements, Challenges, and Solutions

Michael Battaglia, MTRI, [email protected]
Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Michigan Tech Research Inst., [email protected]
Kurt Kowalski, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]
Sarah Grelik, Michigan Tech Research Institute, [email protected]

Abstract

Various landscape planning and management needs require different scales of mapping and monitoring.  The binational coastal Great Lakes Phragmites map, created using circa 2010 imagery, used moderate resolution (10-30 m) electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar imagery to provide a baseline for broad scale assessment of the distribution of Phragmites/wetland types. The dynamic nature of the Great Lakes coast, which is subject to variations in water level, anthropogenic land cover change, and spreading invasive plants, requires periodic updates of static maps. This presentation will highlight an effort to provide updated coastal wetland maps using circa 2016-2017 imagery for several regions of importance around the Great Lakes coastline.  Over 450 field sites were visited during summer of 2017 to provide training and validation data for the mapping effort, and processing of Landsat 8 and ALOS-2 PALSAR data is underway. Machine Learning algorithms are being used to produce map products. Initial products and comparisons to the 2010 map will be provided. 

1. Keyword
coastal wetlands

2. Keyword
remote sensing

3. Keyword
monitoring