Remote sensing of vegetation structure, composition and health

自然和人为干扰造成的景观变化极大地影响了森林和湿地的丰富度和空间格局，进而影响了自然过程（如气候、水文）和动植物的栖息地。这项研究的目标是发展遥感和地理空间方法，以便在各种空间和时间尺度上测绘和监测森林和湿地。卡尔顿地理信息学和景观生态学实验室正在开展安大略省东部景观扰动的生态响应滞后研究。作为其中的一部分，提出了以下项目：利用存档和当前地理空间数据相结合的方法评估该地区过去50年的土地覆盖变化；发展地方和区域湿地植被制图能力；评估道路发展对生境的影响；制定方法改进生物多样性指标的制图和监测，以帮助实现该区域的土地管理目标。其中每一个都将包括由机载或卫星传感器获得的高至中等分辨率图像。结果将与我的合作者对景观破碎化和干扰对物种种群动态的影响的研究联系起来。森林管理方面的研究将在两个环境中进行：受保护的加蒂诺公园和为木材产品而管理的森林。在加蒂诺公园，将开发用于当地生物多样性制图、森林结构和健康时间变化监测以及用于森林制图的光学、激光雷达和雷达数据集成的方法。在安大略省东部和魁北克省南部的私人林地，将制定监测干扰和管理影响的方法。这两个项目将与渥太华地区的两家飞机和摄影公司合作，使用塞斯纳172飞机和定制设计的带有吊舱和相机支架的门。在北方森林采伐方面，将在与工业伙伴的试点研究中改进和执行在上一个赠款期间制订的自动更新评估方法。

Landscape change from natural and anthropogenic disturbance greatly affects the abundance and spatial configuration of forests and wetlands, which in turn impact physical processes (e.g. climate, hydrology) and habitat for flora and fauna.  The goal of this research is to develop remote sensing and geo-spatial methods for mapping and monitoring forests and wetlands at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.  Research on ecological response lags to landscape disturbance in Eastern Ontario is being initiated within the Carleton Geomatics and Landscape Ecology Laboratory.  As part of this, the following projects are proposed: Evaluate land cover change over the region in the past 50 years using a combination of archived and current geo-spatial data; Develop capabilities for local and regional wetland vegetation mapping; Evaluate the impact of road development on habitat; and Develop means to improve mapping and monitoring of biodiversity indicators to aid land management objectives in the region.  Each of these will include high to moderate resolution imagery acquired with airborne or satellite sensors. Results will be linked to the research of my collaborators on impacts of landscape fragmentation and disturbance on species population dynamics. Research in forest management will be conducted in two settings: the protected Gatineau Park and forests managed for wood products. In the Gatineau Park, methods will be developed for local biodiversity mapping, forest structure and health temporal change monitoring, and integration of optical, lidar and radar data for forest mapping.  In private woodlots in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec, methods for monitoring disturbance and management impacts will be developed. These two projects will be in collaboration with two Ottawa area aircraft and photo companies using Cessna 172 aircraft and a custom designed door with pod and camera mount.  In boreal forest cutovers, automated regeneration assessment methods developed in the last grant period will be refined and implemented in pilot studies with industrial partners.