Description:

This research will investigate the potential of the new generation of 1-meter resolution satellite images for deriving coastlines and detecting and analyzing coastal changes. The objectives are a) to study the potential of high resolution satellite for coastline mapping, b) to research new processing techniques for determination of coastlines, and c) to analyze the correlation between coastline changes and associated causes and impact in a GIS.

A high altitude calibration range will be used to assess the mapping potential of the 1-meter satellite imagery. Ground control points and topographic features such as building corner, road intersections, especially line features will be surveyed using differential GPS technology to provide ground truth information. Positional differences, error components, and accuracy improvement will be studied. An objective estimate of the accuracy of typical topological features will be achieved. A pilot coastline mapping project will be carried out on Lake Erie coastline within Ohio. The accuracy of the coastline from the satellite imagery will be compared with that from aerial photogrammetry to be conducted by NGS/NOAA. Coastline changes from periodic satellite survey can be used to detect temporal coastal phenomena such as erosion which affect the coastline. Methods developed in this pilot project will be applied to other Great Lakes or marine coastal regions. A statistical test will be performed to make sure that there is a significant coastline change existing before any spatial analysis of causes or impact will be conducted. Coastline changes caused by erosion will be the focus of the study. Collaborated with CSC, the results will also be extended to other areas of the nation where changes caused by nearshore shallow water submerged features such as sandbars, coral reefs, submerged wrecks and obstructions have to be delineated by the satellite imagery. Impact analysis of coastline changes will be performed based on coastline change/status and other datasets provided by state and local government. Patterns found in erosion causes will be employed to find coastal stretches with similar patterns, where special measures will be taken to prevent the coastal area from being severely eroded.

E-mail:

<li.282@osu.edu>