EXOTIC VEGETATION ASSESMENT (EVA): REMOTE SENSING PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS AT PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK
Open Access
Author:
Brooks, Hope
Area of Honors:
Agroecology
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
David A Mortensen, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Heather D Karsten, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Phragmites australis Common Reed Remote Sensing GIS GEography Ecology Wetland
Abstract:
Invasions of non-native Common Reed, Phragmites australis, alter native wetland communities. To reduce the extent of Phragmites invasions, suppression tactics, like herbicide applications, mowing, and burning, are often employed. Monitoring the efficacy of Phragmites suppression is a challenging and critical component of Phragmites management. Unmanned aircraft systems have successfully been used to map wetland vegetation. This project presents a protocol for collecting aerial imagery using the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, a commercial remote controlled quad rotor helicopter, and a protocol for classifying land cover classes from aerial imagery. Classified aerial images identified land cover classes with an overall accuracy of 73.62%. Individual Phragmites plants could be discerned in the high resolution classified aerial images. Potential applications for imagery collected using unmanned aircraft systems include monitoring the efficacy of Phragmites suppression programs, tracking changes in Phragmites invasions over time, and detecting new Phragmites patches.