Interpreting Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats from Aerial Imagery, by Robert F. Goodwin, GISP of Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services (RS&GIS), Michigan State University. Presented at ASPRS Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI, May 5, 2011.

1. Interpreting Wetlands and Deepwater
Habitats from Aerial Imagery
Habitats from Aerial Imagery
Online Education
Robert F. Goodwin, GISP
GIS/Remote Sensing Analyst
RS&GIS, Michigan State University
RS&GIS, Michigan State University
goodwinr@msu.edu
May 2011
http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

2. Where we’ve been – Where we're going
RS&GIS has been developing and teaching geospatial
courses since the early 1970s
Image interpretation, processing, orthorectification
Image interpretation, processing, orthorectification
Raster processing and analysis
Vector analysis, Cartography
Due to shrinking budgets, instruction has been moving
online
NRCS Introduction to Aerial Image Interpretation
NRCS – Introduction to Aerial Image Interpretation
NRCS – Introduction to Digital Remote Sensing
Image Interpretation for the NRI
Interpreting Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats from Aerial
Imagery
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
2 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

3. Why this course?
Wetland identification and classification educational
offerings focus mainly on the field side of things
There are limited geospatial educational opportunities
There are limited geospatial educational opportunities
concerning wetland interpretation
Interpreting wetlands from remotely‐sensed imagery is a
necessary skill for natural resource professionals
Conservation, Mitigation, Enhancement
Traditional surveys (manual delineation)
Traditional surveys (manual delineation)
Ground‐truthing and QC
Training site identification for other classification activities
Few people know how to accurately interpret wetlands
from remotely‐sensed imagery
Offering online instruction can be cost‐effective
Offering online instruction can be cost effective
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
3 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

4. Course Layout
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
4 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

5. Getting Started
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
5 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

6. Part 1
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
6 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

7. Part 2
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
7 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

8. Part 2…continued
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
8 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

9. Part 3
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
9 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

10. Part 3…continued
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
10 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

11. Approach
The course follows the federal standard
Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the
United States (Cowardin, et. al)
( , )
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
11 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

12. Approach
Teaches interpretation to the “Class” level
In many cases, interpretation beyond the class level from
aerial imagery is unreliable, particularly without multi‐
g y ,p y
temporal data
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
12 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

13. Approach
Not just imagery
Ancillary data plays a big part in the interpretation
p
process
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
13 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

14. Approach
“Multi” Approach
Multi‐temporal, Multi‐spectral
Supplemented with ground and oblique imagery
Supplemented with ground and oblique imagery
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
14 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

15. Approach
Try not to sound like a textbook
Break up the monotony…
Virtual field trips using web browser or virtual globe
Virtual field trips using web browser or virtual globe
Image‐based self assessments
Hands‐on exercises
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
15 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

16. Virtual Field Trips
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
16 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

17. Virtual Field Trips
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
17 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

18. Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
18 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

19. Self‐Assessments
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
19 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

20. Hands‐on Exercises
ESRI ArcGIS exercises
Both 9.x and 10.x instructions
Interpret imagery in a GIS environment
Interpret imagery in a GIS environment
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
20 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

21. Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
21 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

22. Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
22 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

23. Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
23 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

24. Summary…
LOTS of information!
When do you stop adding examples?
Technical content can be challenging to present
Technical content can be challenging to present
appropriately
Hardware and software requirements may hinder some
folks
It is important to keep it interesting
It is NOT for everyone – Must be motivated
i f b i d
Cost‐effective way of training the masses
Flexible
Unlimited enrollment
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
24 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu

25. Questions?
Q ti ?
goodwinr@msu.edu
Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services
25 http://www.rsgis.msu.edu