An object-based image analysis approach for mapping and monitoring flooding and topographic change near Duluth, Minnesota, USA

A short-term precipitation event near Duluth, Minnesota, USA caused flooding, erosion, and deposition that impacted the natural and anthropogenic landscape. This study quantified these impacts with an object-based image analysis approach that integrated multi-temporal lidar and optical data. Flooding inundated 3% of the study area and impacted 28% of the buildings. Topographic change volumes from erosion and deposition ranged from 36.3 m³ to -32.2 m³. Erosion occurred over 21% of the area while deposition occurred over 11% of the area. These results provide decision managers with a spatially-explicit framework for assessing and monitoring inundation and topographic change in response short-term precipitation events.