Application of Automated Remote Sensing Techniques to Dam Counting

Summary

In the winter of 2000, the Department of Geomatics at the University of Melbourne was commissioned to investigate automated image processing techniques for detecting, counting and classifying dams in the Upper Wimmera catchment from remotely sensed imagery. Determination of the number and size of dams is an important aspect of water resource management as it provides an indication of the total volume of water harvested by on-farm dams and, through appropriate modelling, the subsequent impact of the dams on streamflows. In the course of the investigation, colour aerial photography was acquired for the entire Upper Wimmera catchment as well as the Avoca sub-catchment. In addition, high resolution satellite imagery was acquired for an 8km by 8km region within the Upper Wimmera catchment. Image processing techniques were developed to automatically extract dam features from this digital imagery. As a result, it was shown that automatic interpretation of high resolution remotely sensed data has great potential for mapping, monitoring and measuring dams in rural Australia.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Dare

Paul Dare is currently a research fellow at the Department of Geomatics, University of Melbourne, where he has worked since 1999. He completed an honours degree in physics at Oxford University in 1991, and a PhD in remote sensing at University College London in 1999. Dr. Dare’s research interests are principally associated with automatic feature extraction and spatial information acquisition from remotely sensed imagery. He has published numerous journal and conference papers on this subject, with particular reference to issues as diverse as automatic measurement of cracks in concrete to automatic detection of forest defoliation caused by koala over-populations. In addition, Dr. Dare is researching geometric and radiometric aspects of high resolution satellite imaging, as well as teaching advanced imaging and photogrammetry to undergraduates in the Department of Geomatics.

Clive Fraser

Clive Fraser is currently a Professor in the Dept. of Geomatics at The University of Melbourne. On the academic research side, his particular areas of interest are in digital photogrammetric mapping, industrial measurement systems and the exploitation of high-resolution satellite imagery. On the industry side, he is involved with the development of innovative image-based spatial IT products and he has recently served as Technical Director of Geomatic Technologies Pty Ltd, a spatial information company based in Melbourne. Prior to his current appointments, Dr Fraser served as Reader and Head of the Department of Geomatics from 1993 to mid 1998, and prior to joining the University of Melbourne in early 1993, he was for 10 years Vice President of Geodetic Services, Inc. in Florida, the World’s leading company in industrial photogrammetric systems and services.

Dr Fraser is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and in recognition of his academic and professional work he has earned numerous international awards including the Fairchild Photogrammetric Award, the Talbert Abrams, Wild Heerbrugg and Bausch & Lomb, all from the American Society of Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing; and the President’s Medal and the President’s Prize from the Photogrammetric Society of the UK. Dr Fraser has a number of active international research and industry collaborations, and he serves as a consultant to industry in Australia, Japan, the US and Europe. He also serves on the Editorial Boards of four of the leading international journals dealing with photogrammetry and remote sensing and he has authored more than 190 publications.

Troy Duthie

Troy completed a Bachelor of Science (Aquatic Science) in 1995, undertaking honours the following year with a thesis examining nutrient and salinity levels in the Hopkins River, western Victoria. Troy completed a Master of Science degree in 2000 with a thesis entitled ‘Nutrients in Pirron Yallock Creek, southwestern Victoria – palaeolimnological and management considerations.’

Troy is currently employed with the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, based in Horsham, Victoria. His role as Water Resource Management Officer sees him responsible for managing the development of the Wimmera’s streamflow management plans and environmental flows. Part of the development of the Wimmera’s streamflow management plans involves identifying the current level of water harvesting within the catchment. As the majority of water is harvested by farm dams, an accurate estimate of the number and volume of farm dams was required, and hence the involvement in this project.