Fine Resolution Remote Sensing of Species in Terrestrial and Coastal Ecosystems

Detailed and accurate information on the spatial distribution of individual species over large spatial extents and over multiple time periods is critical for rapid response and effective management of environmental change. The twenty first century has witnessed a rapid development in both fine resolution sensors and statistical theories and techniques. These innovations hold great potential for improved accuracy of species mapping using remote sensing.

Fine Resolution Remote Sensing of Species in Terrestrial and Coastal Ecosystems is a collection of eight cutting-edge studies of fine spatial resolution remote sensing, including species mapping of biogenic and coral reefs, seagrasses, salt and freshwater marshes, and grasslands. The studies illustrate the power of fine resolution imagery for species identification, as well as the value of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery as an ideal source of high-quality reference data at the species level. The studies also highlight the benefit of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data for species identification, and how this varies depending on the species of interest as well as the nature of the context in which the species is found. The broad range of applications explored in the book demonstrates the major contribution of remote sensing to species-level terrestrial and coastal ecosystem studies as well as the potential for future advances.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Remote Sensing.

Qi Chen is Professor of Geography and Environment at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, USA. His research focuses on the use of LiDAR, high spatial resolution remote sensing, statistical modelling, and artificial intelligence for environmental mapping and monitoring.

Tiit Kutser is Professor of Remote Sensing at the Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Tallinn, Estonia. His research covers many different topics from mapping water quality parameters (including harmful algal blooms) in coastal and inland waters to benthic habitat (including coral reefs) mapping and the role of lakes in the global carbon cycle.

Antoine Collin is Associate Professor of Geography and Ecology at the Paris Sciences & Letters (PSL) University, Dinard, France. His research links the coastal natural and social sciences in the ocean-climate change. He maps and models costal environments using high spatio-temporal resolution spaceborne, airborne, handborne, waterborne data, and machine learning.

Timothy A. Warner is Emeritus Professor of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA. He served as editor in chief of the International Journal of Remote Sensing from 2014 to 2020. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.