High Resolution Vegetation Mapping at Palmyra Atoll Using Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS)-Acquired Imagery Active
Lying 1000 miles south of Hawaii, Palmyra Atoll is a marine wilderness co-managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. Beach forests of Pisonia grandis and other vegetation communities provide habitat for thousands of nesting terns, boobies, and other birds. Introduced coconut (Cocos nucifera) groves and use of Palmyra as a World War II airfield left a legacy of invasive plants and contamination that threaten this remote ecosystem.
The Issue: In order to restore Pisonia forests and other native plant communities and improve wildlife habitat, the refuge is removing coconut trees and other invasive species. At the same time, proposed remediation of contaminants at the site may cause significant alterations of vegetation communities. The refuge needs data on baseline conditions to monitor invasive control measures and document the effects of remediation.
Addressing the Issue: In 2016, high resolution aerial photography of Palmyra Atoll was acquired using UAS (or “drones”). Data sets include orthorectified color imagery (3.7 cm resolution) for all islands, orthorectified multiband (R, G, B, near infrared, and red edge) imagery (6.5 cm resolution) for most islands, canopy height point cloud data derived using structure-from-motion (SFM) analysis, and digital elevation models (DEM) derived from point cloud data. This project uses UAS imagery and derived products, as well as existing field-collected data on vegetation at the atoll, to generate high-resolution vegetation maps to inform management planning and implementation in advance of contaminant remediation and coconut removal to enhance terrestrial habitat. The high resolution of the imagery combined with the relatively limited number of species on the atoll enables stem-level mapping of coconut and other tree and shrub species of interest. Elevation data derived from the UAS imagery will facilitate delineation between similar species, and will enable estimates of biomass on a species-by-species basis. A complementary set of ground flora visual observation data, collected by USGS and University of California Santa Barbara field personnel, will be used to ground truth and facilitate UAS mapping of lower vegetative strata that are not obscured by canopy and calibrate biomass estimates.
Objectives:
- Generate stem-level map of coconut and other selected woody plants to document baseline conditions prior to intensive coconut removal and contaminant remediation efforts
- Map vegetation according to national Vegetation Classification Standards at scales relevant to management issues
- Assist in the development of habitat restoration and management plans for the atoll
- Initiate restoration monitoring program incorporating field- and UAS-acquired data
Return to Ecological Restoration
Return to Conservation, Quantitative, and Restoration Ecology
Utilizing UAS for Data Collection at Remote Sites: Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
UAS and Other Remote Sensing and Imagery Analysis For Disaster Response, Remediation, and Restoration and Monitoring Ecological Restoration
- Overview
Lying 1000 miles south of Hawaii, Palmyra Atoll is a marine wilderness co-managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. Beach forests of Pisonia grandis and other vegetation communities provide habitat for thousands of nesting terns, boobies, and other birds. Introduced coconut (Cocos nucifera) groves and use of Palmyra as a World War II airfield left a legacy of invasive plants and contamination that threaten this remote ecosystem.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsLeft to right: 0.5 m resolution satellite imagery; 0.04 m resolution UAS-acquired image; stem level map of three woody canopy species delineated from aerial imagery. Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.(Public domain.) The Issue: In order to restore Pisonia forests and other native plant communities and improve wildlife habitat, the refuge is removing coconut trees and other invasive species. At the same time, proposed remediation of contaminants at the site may cause significant alterations of vegetation communities. The refuge needs data on baseline conditions to monitor invasive control measures and document the effects of remediation.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsUAS pre-flight check prior to deployment for aerial imagery collection(Public domain.) Addressing the Issue: In 2016, high resolution aerial photography of Palmyra Atoll was acquired using UAS (or “drones”). Data sets include orthorectified color imagery (3.7 cm resolution) for all islands, orthorectified multiband (R, G, B, near infrared, and red edge) imagery (6.5 cm resolution) for most islands, canopy height point cloud data derived using structure-from-motion (SFM) analysis, and digital elevation models (DEM) derived from point cloud data. This project uses UAS imagery and derived products, as well as existing field-collected data on vegetation at the atoll, to generate high-resolution vegetation maps to inform management planning and implementation in advance of contaminant remediation and coconut removal to enhance terrestrial habitat. The high resolution of the imagery combined with the relatively limited number of species on the atoll enables stem-level mapping of coconut and other tree and shrub species of interest. Elevation data derived from the UAS imagery will facilitate delineation between similar species, and will enable estimates of biomass on a species-by-species basis. A complementary set of ground flora visual observation data, collected by USGS and University of California Santa Barbara field personnel, will be used to ground truth and facilitate UAS mapping of lower vegetative strata that are not obscured by canopy and calibrate biomass estimates.
Objectives:
- Generate stem-level map of coconut and other selected woody plants to document baseline conditions prior to intensive coconut removal and contaminant remediation efforts
- Map vegetation according to national Vegetation Classification Standards at scales relevant to management issues
- Assist in the development of habitat restoration and management plans for the atoll
- Initiate restoration monitoring program incorporating field- and UAS-acquired data
Return to Ecological Restoration
Return to Conservation, Quantitative, and Restoration Ecology
- Science
Utilizing UAS for Data Collection at Remote Sites: Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
UAS and Other Remote Sensing and Imagery Analysis For Disaster Response, Remediation, and Restoration and Monitoring Ecological Restoration
CERC scientists are utilizing remote sensing technologies to facilitate rapid collection of ephemeral field data following disasters, to assess injuries to natural resources and potential threats to human health, and to inform and monitor ecological restoration.