Integrating field survey and orthophoto information to monitor coastal habitats — A pilot study to develop methods and resolve key issues

Implementation of mapping and monitoring is necessary to supply sufficient information to guide an effective management of species, habitats and landscapes. Coastal ecosystems can be difficult to monitor effectively in the field due to spatially discontinuous and unpredictable processes such as encroachment, erosion and succession, while coverage of large extents is very expensive. Remote sensing-based monitoring provides an alternative, but satellite image data is often too expensive or too coarse in spatial resolution to detect fine-scale habitat structures. Using Danish coastal habitats as a case, a method is presented for monitoring habitat types and fine-scale structures, based on integration of field-acquired habitat characteristics with the habitat information interpreted from sub-meter RGB/NIR aerial imagery and digital elevation model data. Initial pilot studies show good correspondence between field-observed structure elements and structures delineated through object-based image analysis, while initial classifications results suggest possibilities of discriminating between different types of shrubs, herb communities and non-vegetated structures.

► A method for monitoring coastal habitat types and structures is presented. ► We use RGB and NIR orthophotos and DTM's integrated with field work. ► Images are segmented by OBIA and validated and labeled in the field. ► We found a good correspondence between field and image structure demarcation. ► Classification test suggests possibilities of discriminating fine-scale structures.