Environmental Analysis |
Wetland Restoration Planning & Monitoring
Ocean Imaging has a long history of mapping marshes and wetlands, in many cases down to individual plant species with 25-30cm resolution aerial imagery. We have particular expertise in providing initial data delineating native and non-native species for restoration planning, and monitoring the various restoration phases and long-term progress. We have also mapped and assessed damage to wetland areas following such events as oil spills and hurricanes.
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Water Quality & Runoff Monitoring
Ocean Imaging pioneered the use of satellite and aerial imagery for monitoring wastewater outfalls with NASA research funds in the 90s. Since then, OI has been monitoring several outfalls as part of regional water quality monitoring programs mandated by their discharge permits. Our technology helped separate the potential effects of the outfall plumes from other sources of polluted runoff nearby and even aided in the settlement of lawsuits related to one of the outfalls. Our image analyses are done in conjunction with traditional field sampling and help interpret the field as well as interpolate them in time and space.
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Change Detection
Many of Ocean Imaging’s operational and research projects utilize customized techniques to detect changes over time through multiple image data sets. OI's expertise spans from using several satellite images collected over a single or more days to detect changes in ocean current and plankton patterns, to analysis of changes in regional vegetation over periods of decades. OI has also utilized our aerial sensors to help assess changes in ground cover and plant health as the result of oil and chemical spills. Typically, we image the affected area and a nearby unaffected “control” area with the same ecological characteristics, and re-image both areas several weeks later. Statistical analysis of changes in such parameters as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from the image pairs are then used to assess natural temporal changes affecting the control area versus any abnormalities in vegetation affected by the spill.
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Thermal Discharge Tracking
Ocean Imaging's thermal IR aerial system allows us to discern differences in soil or water temperature as small as 0.08°C. OI has utilized the imagery to track warm water discharges from powerplants into the ocean, and even mapped potential areas of groundwater seepage on land.
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Dredging and Disposal Monitoring
Ocean Imaging has utilized both, high resolution aerial and broad-area coverage satellite imagery to monitor the dispersal of dredged material being disposed of offshore, as well as aided the analysis of particle size effects on the loss of beach-deposited sand meant for beach replenishment.
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Environmental Impact Assessments
Ocean Imaging has provided EIAs both independently and as partners with other experts. These include both terrestrial and ocean areas of interest. One example of an ocean-related EIA was the evaluation of potential effects of a rock jetty extension on nearby surf grass beds. Aerial multispectral imaging was used to map the beds and existing sand distributions, and those data were, in turn, used as inputs to a sand redistribution model for the jetty extension.
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