Remote Sensing of Tidal Wetlands: Mapping and Beyond

Remote sensing, primarily using aerial photographs, is a widely established and accepted method in mapping and inventory of tidal wetlands. Wetland habitats are recognized and the boundaries with non-wetlands are drawn primarily on the basis of interpreted vegetative cover as well as on identification of open water, beach, rocky shores, etc. Mapping by remote detection enjoys considerable advantages in speed, flexibility, and cost per area mapped over conventional techniques. With mapping and inventory applications well established, research is focusing more and more on effective sensing of functional processes within the wetlands environment. The accurate measurement of radiometric characteristics made possible by hand-held field radiometers and by aerial and orbital multispectral scanners has produced increased efforts in quantitatively relating remote measurements to environmental parameters. Because of the expense of field measurement of functional variables, use of remote sensing technology, particularly orbital sensors, would be extremely cost-effective relative to conventional methods in these applications.