Home > Hyperspectral techniques to detect off-road vehicle tracks along the Ningaloo coastline
Hyperspectral techniques to detect off-road vehicle tracks along the Ningaloo coastline
| Title | Hyperspectral techniques to detect off-road vehicle tracks along the Ningaloo coastline |
| Publication Type | Thesis |
| Year of Publication | 2008 |
| Authors | Bunning, J |
| Advisor | Cramer, V, Kobryn H |
| Academic Department | School of Environmental Science |
| Degree | Masters of Environmental Science |
| Number of Pages | 1-78 |
| Date Published | 2008 |
| University | Murdoch University |
| City | Perth |
| Keywords | human use, hyperspectral, Ningaloo, terrestrial |
| Abstract | The Ningaloo coastline in the remote northwest of Western Australia has recently emerged as a highly popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of visitors to its coastline to enjoy fishing, camping, snorkeling, wildlife viewing and four-wheel drive activities. In order to protect the unique coastal communities and pristine environment that is responsible for attracting so many tourists, careful planning and monitoring of the coastal roads and access points to beaches is required that minimizes degradation of the natural resources.
In April 2006, hyperspectral sensors captured data over the Ningaloo coastline to map the Ningaloo Marine Park. Hyperspectral remote sensing is a non-invasive tool that can provide information on landforms, vegetation and ground cover that might be missed by other remote sensing tools. Hyperspectral techniques were explored, using Vegetation Indices, Minimum Noise Fraction and Spectral Angler Mapper to detect off-road vehicle tracks in the Ningaloo region. The study covered different management zones, landscapes and ecosystems and certain areas were ground truthed to observe the presence of tracks and their impact on the habitat. Different techniques were more appropriate for identifying tracks over different landscapes; therefore, the combined application of all three approaches extracted the most information on the distribution of tracks.
The derived hyperspectral dataset has the potential to provide an indication of the effectiveness of hyperspectral techniques for monitoring and managing the prevailing network of roads and minor tracks along the Ningaloo coastline. This could assist the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) with future assessments of the appropriate level of access and use of the Ningaloo coastal environment and the potential physical impact of vehicular traffic on the vulnerable coastal communities. |
| Refereed Designation | Refereed |
