Remote Sensing For Landscape Ecology

Landscape ecology is a rapidly growing science of quantifying the ways in which ecosystems interact - of establishing a link between activities in one region and repercussions in another region. Remote sensing is a fast, inexpensive tool for conducting the landscape inventories that are essential to this branch of science. However, anyone who has conducted studies in the field has already found that traditional landscape ecology metrics are not always reliable with remote images. Landscape Ecology: New Metric Indicators for Monitoring, Modeling, and Assessment of Ecosystems with Remote Sensing presents a new set of metrics that allows remotely sensed data to be used effectively in landscape ecology. This groundbreaking new work is the first to present new metrics for remote sensing of landscapes and demonstrate how they can be used to yield more accurate analyses for GIS studies. The new metrics expand the capabilities of GIS, reduce interference and incorrect readings, help ecologists better understand ecosystem relationships, and reduce study costs. This set of metrics should be adopted by the EPA and will be the standard measure for future landscape analysis. This authoritative guide assesses the current state of the field and how remote sensing and landscape metrics have been used to date. It also explains how some of the traditional metrics were developed and how they can fail in landscape studies. Once this background has been established, the new metrics are introduced and their benefits and uses explained. The information in this book has previously been available only in scattered journal articles; this is the first single source for complete background information and instructions on using the new metrics.

5.2 Case Study: Watersheds of the Missouri River and the Mississippi River -- 5.2.1 Landscape Metrics among Great Rivers Tributary Basins -- 5.2.2 Flooding Futures among Tributary Basins -- 5.2.3 Hydrologic Change Analysis in the Kansas River Watershed -- 5.2.4 Determining Riverine, Riparian, and Floodplain Landscape Conditions -- 5.2.4.1 The Hydrologic Model -- 5.2.4.2 The Hydraulic Model -- 5.2.5 Inferring Floodplain Landscape Conditions and Associated River Hydrology -- 5.2.5.1 Land Use and Land Cover -- 5.2.5.2 Precipitation -- 5.2.5.3 Wetlands -- 5.2.5.4 Kansas River Streamflow for Modeled Land Use and Land Cover Scenarios -- 5.2.5.5 Importance of Remote Sensing for Landscape Ecological Scenario Development -- Chapter 6: Meeting the Landscape Ecology Challenges of the Future with Remote Sensing -- 6.1 Future Trends in Landscape Sciences for Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment -- 6.2 Emphases on Watershed Restoration and Coastal Planning -- 6.3 The Importance of Ecological Goods and Services for Communities -- 6.3.1 Ecosystem Supporting Services -- 6.3.1.1 Carbon Cycling -- 6.3.1.2 Wildlife Habitat -- 6.3.2 Ecosystem Regulating Services -- 6.3.3 Ecosystem Provisioning Services -- 6.3.4 Ecosystem Cultural Services -- 6.4 Using Remote Sensing to Map Ecosystem Services -- 6.5 Moving toward a World of Sustainable Landscapes -- 6.6 Global Perspectives for Systems Analyses of the Future -- Glossary -- References -- Metadata Cited -- Index

This book provides the practical basis for the use of remote sensing to accomplish landscape ecological projects, through the merging of theory and practice, with examples. This is a specialized application and both these topics have evolved rapidly in the past decade. This evolution is not in the previous edition, and indeed this update provides much new information and valuable ideas for the professional and assist in directing the training of new personnel. The new edition will feature a combination of landscape ecology metrics, quantitative field measurements, and geospatial analyses.

This book provides the practical basis for the use of remote sensing to accomplish landscape ecological projects, through the merging of theory and practice, with examples. This is a specialized application and both these topics have evolved rapidly in the past decade. This evolution is not in the previous edition, and indeed this update provides much new information and valuable ideas for the professional and assist in directing the training of new personnel. The new edition will feature a combination of landscape ecology metrics, quantitative field measurements, and geospatial analyses.

This book introduces the use of various remote sensing data such as microwave, hyperspectral and very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery; mapping techniques including pixel and object-based machine learning; and geostatistical modelling techniques including cellular automation, entropy and land fragmentation. Remote sensing plays a vital role in solving urban and environmental challenges at the landscape level. Globally, more than half of the urban population is facing severe environmental and social challenges, especially those relating to climate change, agricultural land encroachment, green infrastructure and environmental degradation, mobility due to rapid rural–urban transformation and anthropogenic interventions. Mapping and quantification of such threats at the landscape level are challenging for experts using traditional techniques; however, remote sensing technology provides diverse spatial data at a varying scale, volume and accessibility for mapping and modelling, and it also analyses challenges at urban and landscape levels. Together, they address challenges at urban and landscape levels to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The landscape we see and live in is an important part or our everyday lives, be they urban or rural. Environmental concern has grown in recent years, as a result of public awareness of the detrimental impact industry, transport and tourism can have on the ecosystem. This book examines the role of the new technologies of geographical information systems and remote sensing as media for the study of landscape, as they provide tools of unprecedented power which collect, store, manipulate and analyze data so as to support and assist the decisions which the environmental scientist, ecologist, zoologist and botanist make.; "Landscape Ecology and Geographical Information Systems" is international in scope, provides an overview of operational applications, and offers experiences in the form of case studies of applications to vegetation, animals, and hydrology. The book is organized into four sections. It - provides an overview of the uses of GIS and RSS in landscape ecology; debates conceptual issues such applications throw up; considers analytical techniques and technical issues; and offers experiences in the form of Case Studies On Plant, Abiotic And Animal Landscape Ecology.

Filled with numerous exercises this practical guide provides a real hands-on approach to learning the essential concepts and techniques of landscape ecology. The knowledge gained enables students to usefully address landscape- level ecological and management issues. A variety of approaches are presented, including: group discussion, thought problems, written exercises, and modelling. Each exercise is categorised as to whether it is for individual, small group, or whole class study.

The Handbook provides a supporting guide to key aspects and applications of landscape ecology to underpin its research and teaching. A wide range of contributions written by expert researchers in the field summarize the latest knowledge on landscape ecology theory and concepts, landscape processes, methods and tools, and emerging frontiers. Landscape ecology is an interdisciplinary and holistic discipline, and this is reflected in the chapters contained in this Handbook. Authors from varying disciplinary backgrounds tackle key concepts such as landscape structure and function, scale and connectivity; landscape processes such as disturbance, flows, and fragmentation; methods such as remote sensing and mapping, fieldwork, pattern analysis, modelling, and participation and engagement in landscape planning; and emerging frontiers such as ecosystem services, landscape approaches to biodiversity conservation, and climate change. Each chapter provides a blend of the latest scientific understanding of its focal topics along with considerations and examples of their application from around the world. An invaluable guide to the concepts, methods, and applications of landscape ecology, this book will be an important reference text for a wide range of students and academics in ecology, geography, biology, and interdisciplinary environmental studies.