AN ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL WETLAND VEGETATION MAP COVERAGES. PRODUCED BASED ON AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND SATELLITE IMAGERY NETLEY-LIBAU MARSH, 2001
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Date
2014-06
Authors
Watchorn, K. Elise
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Water Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada
Abstract
Netley-Libau Marsh, the largest coastal wetland adjoining Lake Winnipeg, has been mapped by aerial photography in
the past (Grosshans et al 2004; Verbiwski 1986), indicating a trend of vegetation loss, but a lack of historic aerial
photography has limited mapping efforts to sporadic intervals. Landsat imagery, though of a coarser spatial
resolution, has the advantage of high temporal and spectral resolution. In this study, a classified digital vegetation
map was created for Netley-Libau Marsh in 2001 using GIS software, Landsat 7 imagery, and a visual classification
methodology, for the purposes of comparison with an existing digital vegetation map produced by Grosshans et al
(2004) from aerial photography obtained during the same year.
Visual delineation and classification of Landsat multispectral imagery was a method suitable for producing wetland
maps which distinguish vegetated from non-vegetated areas with a high degree of accuracy, as compared to the
truthed Grosshans et al map. Whereas that photography-based mapping exercise distinguished 23 vegetation classes
grouped under six marsh zones; this study was able to successfully distinguish five marsh zones – water, not
vegetated, emergent wetland vegetation, wet meadow, and upland. Further distinction and categorization of three
marsh zones into seven vegetation classes was also possible, but with a lower degree of accuracy.
This report describes the methods used to evaluate differences in surface area of equivalent classes between the two
mapping exercises. It also provides recommendation for the future analysis of Landsat images to produce a time
series of classified digital vegetation maps that may be used to explore relationships between lake and river
hydrology and wetland plant cover. This knowledge will be fundamental to guide management and remediation
efforts for the benefit of Netley-Libau Marsh and Lake Winnipeg.
Description
Keywords
netley-libeau, satellite imagery, marsh, wetland, vegetation