Natural Resource Monitoring

Kelp and Eel Grass Mapping
Our past and on-going projects include annual kelp and eel grass surveys for the State of California, the Navy and the National Estuary Program. We also mapped eel grass in several lagoons in Mexico as part of evaluating changes in waterfowl overwintering habitats. We have also conducted research on developing algorithms to derive actual kelp biomass from aerial multispectral imagery and are presently using the technology for estimates in Alaska and Oregon. Additional research through NASA funding resulted in the first-ever worldwide map of kelp forests derived from satellite imagery.

Eel Grass Mapping: San Quintin, Mexico	Kelp Mapping: Central CA Coast	Kelp Mapping: Keku Straight, Pt. Baker, AK	Kelp Persistence Map: La Jolla, CA
Kelp Biomass Index:

Intertidal & Subtidal Substrate Mapping
The ability to configure our aerial multispectral imagers’ channels with specific wavelength combinations allows us to maximize water penetration while still providing multispectral reflectance characteristics that allow the identification and separation of various bottom substrates.  In some projects our image data are combined with multibeam sonar or LIDAR data sets to provide both bathymetry and bottom substrate type information. Our inter/subtidal data bases serve various applications such as research, resource management and coastal construction permitting.

Bottom Substrate Mapping: San Diego CA	Bottom Substrate Mapping: Santa Barbara Island CA	Intertidal Habitat Mapping: Morro Bay CA

Sediment Fate and Transport
We have developed various algorithms to track and quantify suspended sediment loads from aerial and satellite imagery. Application of our analyses include water quality monitoring, beach sand replenishment feasibility studies, and identification of regional point and non-point source discharge sources affecting coastal ecosystems.

Sediment Fate: Rhodamine Dye Use - Huntington Beach, CA	Sediment Fate: Tijuana, Mexico	Sediment Fate Plume Labeling: Tijuana, Mexico

Wetland Mapping
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.

Wetland Mapping: Carpinteria Estuary, CA	Wetland Mapping: NDVI Change	Wetland Mapping: San Quentin Lagoon, Mexico