Citation:

NASH, M. S., D. J. CHALOUD, S. SARRI, AND W. G. KEPNER. INTEGRATION OF STATISTICS, REMOTE SENSING AND EXISTING DATA TO LOCATE CHANGES IN LAND RESOURCES. Presented at 2007 EPA Conference on Quality Systems, Cleveland, OH, June 11 - 14, 2007.

Impact/Purpose:

The primary objectives of this research are to:

Develop methodologies so that landscape indicator values generated from different sensors on different dates (but in the same areas) are comparable; differences in metric values result from landscape changes and not differences in the sensors;

Quantify relationships between landscape metrics generated from wall-to-wall spatial data and (1) specific parameters related to water resource conditions in different environmental settings across the US, including but not limited to nutrients, sediment, and benthic communities, and (2) multi-species habitat suitability;

Develop and validate multivariate models based on quantification studies;

Develop GIS/model assessment protocols and tools to characterize risk of nutrient and sediment TMDL exceedence;

Complete an initial draft (potentially web based) of a national landscape condition assessment.

This research directly supports long-term goals established in ORDs multiyear plans related to GPRA Goal 2 (Water) and GPRA Goal 4 (Healthy Communities and Ecosystems), although funding for this task comes from Goal 4. Relative to the GRPA Goal 2 multiyear plan, this research is intended to "provide tools to assess and diagnose impairment in aquatic systems and the sources of associated stressors." Relative to the Goal 4 Multiyear Plan this research is intended to (1) provide states and tribes with an ability to assess the condition of waterbodies in a scientifically defensible and representative way, while allowing for aggregation and assessment of trends at multiple scales, (2) assist Federal, State and Local managers in diagnosing the probable cause and forecasting future conditions in a scientifically defensible manner to protect and restore ecosystems, and (3) provide Federal, State and Local managers with a scientifically defensible way to assess current and future ecological conditions, and probable causes of impairments, and a way to evaluate alternative future management scenarios.

Description:

Stability of a nation is dependent on the availability of natural resources. When land is degraded and natural resources become limited, socioeconomic status declines and emigration increases in developing countries. Natural resource utilization without proper management may result in irreversible land degradation. Early detection of resource depletion may enable protective actions to be taken prior to significant decline in resources and associated socioeconomic conditions. We have developed a simple method based on readily available data to locate areas of concern. Our method integrates results from statistical analyses of inexpensive remote sensing data (e.g., Normalized Difference Vegetative Index) data. Results are mapped using ARCView. Ancillary information is used to verify results and to assist in identification of probable causes of significant positive and negative change. These results can be used by authorities in developing management plans to preserve or conserve natural resources and maintain or improve the socioeconomic status of the resident population.

Record Details: