Use of NDVI dataset for a GIS based analysis: A sample study of TAR Creek superfund site

Tar Creek is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated superfund site in Ottawa County, Oklahoma that is heavily polluted with acid mine drainage (AMD) and pollutant deposits in the form of mine tailings (chat piles). Among several residual heavy metal contaminants, zinc and lead are most prevalent in these chat piles. Approximately 50 million cubic yards or 75 million tons of chat remained in Ottawa County as a result of excessive mining in early 1900's to 1960's. This chat is in addition to the pollution that is leached from open mine shafts that drain contaminants into the groundwater, some of which flows directly into streams and creeks. This paper discusses a methodology for incorporating satellite data (MODIS NDVI) within a GIS framework to perform time series analysis in areas near Tar Creek. GIS functions in Map Algebra and Zonal Statistics were implemented to study changes in spectral reflectance due to vegetation at two locations. One of the locations is a sample plot where remedial action consisted of cleaning up of the chat pile and growing native grass. The second location is along Tar Creek and Elm Creek. The paper describes one of the methods that can be used to combine remotely sensed imagery data and spatial feature data within the GIS framework. The main advantages of combining the two datasets using the described process is that, powerful geoprocessing functions within GIS can be easily applied to remote sensing data and the analysis of vector and raster data can be performed in unison. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.