Quantifying the discriminatory power of remote sensing technologies for benthic habitat mapping

ABSTRACT

When mapping benthic habitats using remotely sensed data, the ability to discriminate between pairs of habitats is a key measure of the usefulness of a set of one or more input covariates. In the case where some input data is already available, but a superior map is sought, map-makers would like to know which additional remote sensing data would make the greatest improvement to the quality of their maps. Depending on the purpose of the map, this could be measured by the extent to which a selected pair of habitats is discriminated.

This study exploits an existing data-rich study site in order to provide guidance for the use of remote sensing technology in regions where such data do not exist already. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) reflectivity, multibeam backscatter, World View 2 (WV2) bands 1–4, multibeam bathymetry, and depth-derived variables are analysed to determine the extent to which they enable benthic habitats of interest to be discriminated from one another in a statistical sense. Ground truth is employed in the form of towed video.

Quantitative results are tabulated for each of the six pairs of four key habitat classes: macroalgae, seagrass, sand, and reef. The technique of Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) is used to calculate ratios of between-class to within-class variation and cross-validated error rate estimates are calculated for the best combination of N variables, where N varies from 1 to 8. It is found that: Reef and Macroalgae classes cannot be statistically distinguished with the technologies and training methods studied here; WV2 augmented with depth provides good discrimination between the separable classes; multibeam echosounder depth and backscatter data both provide good information for mapping cover types, but in general are not as useful as optical data if it is available. LiDAR reflectivity is a very useful covariate, which has comparable discriminatory power to any one of the first three WV2 bands, with the added potential to penetrate to greater depths than the passive satellite sensors.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the swath team, support staff, and boat crew of the R.V. Linnaeus who conducted the survey. Thanks also to Gordon Keith for providing the processed backscatter data. This work was funded by CSIRO’s Oceans Flagship, via the Coastal Management Theme.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.