Elkhorn Coral provides important habitat in reef ecosystems across the Caribbean, but is under threat from coral bleaching. This study uses UAV imagery to identify individual Elkhorn Coral colonies in East End Marine Park, St. Croix.
Densely populated urban environments are increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat impacts due to climate change in the northeast region of the USA. Micro-forests offer the potential to provide larger cooling benefits due to the dense native vegetation than single or small groups of trees. This research uses a DJI Mavic 3T thermal UAV to examine the land surface temperature of a 3-year-old micro-forest over the course of a typical summer day.
This study presents an automated ML image recognition workflow and geospatial analysis to efficiently confirm invasive species reports of iMapInvasives, improving accuracy, decision-making, and rapid response in New York State.
This study evaluates the effectiveness of top-of-atmosphere radiance (TOAR) and atmospherically corrected surface reflectance (SR) data in detecting vegetation cover changes in Acadia National Park. Using PlanetScope data, we applied NDVI and ARVI for change detection. Modified ARVI indices from SR data, with controlled red or blue bands, showed the highest accuracy (87.58% and 89.44%). The results suggest SR data provides better insights for monitoring vegetation dynamics in protected areas.
Energy insecurity (the inability to meet household energy needs) disparately impacts certain populations and geographies. Previous studies have explored these relationships, but have not examined their spatial context due to data availability. I apply techniques from ArcPro’s Spatial Statistics Toolbox to a unique dataset of non-payment utility shutoffs in Minneapolis, MN. My results show evidence of clustering and varying spatial relationships with race, education levels, and public assistance.
This study examined grazing effects on rangeland vegetation in Willits, California, using UAS imagery. Image analysis was conducted in ArcGIS Pro 3.4.3 and Pix4D. Comparing 5 grazed and 5 ungrazed zones with GCC and NDVI indices revealed that grazed areas showed higher vegetation health in summer (both indices) and higher GCC in fall, while fall NDVI was comparable between treatments. Both areas exhibited seasonal decline from summer to fall, consistent with Mediterranean climate patterns.
Using drone based hyper-/multi-spectral imaging, we detect early nutrient deficiencies in fruit crops. Strong correlations between spectral data and macronutrients enable MLR models to predict nutrient levels, improving yield, quality.
Leveraging the data entered in iMapInvasives, an online all-taxa invasive species database, and ArcGIS Pro Modelbuilder, we have been able to estimate the biomass of water chestnut infestations and treatments at targeted locations across New York State. ArcGIS Online Map Viewer and ArcGIS Experience Builder tools allow managers to visualize biomass information and produce quick infestation summaries to help natural resource professionals acquire more actionable information about site management.
