Remote Sensing of Wetlands: Case Studies Comparing Practical Techniques

KLEMAS, V., 2011. Remote sensing of wetlands: case studies comparing practical techniques. Journal of Coastal Research, 27(3), 418-427. West Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. To plan for wetland protection and sensible coastal development, scientists and managers need to monitor the changes in coastal wetlands as the sea level continues to rise and the coastal population keeps expanding. Advances in sensor design and data analysis techniques are making remote sensing systems practical and attractive for monitoring natural and man-induced wetland changes. The objective of this paper is to review and compare wetland remote sensing techniques that are cost-effective and practical and to illustrate their use through two case studies. The results of the case studies show that analysis of satellite and aircraft imagery, combined with on-the-ground observations, allows researchers to effectively determine long-term trends and short-term changes of wetland vegetation and hydrology.