Information Center for the Environment

The primary goal of this project was to test the feasibility of using high-spatial resolution, Airborne visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data to identify and assess riparian vegetation over an area with complex topography and land use. In particular, our goals were to use ecological field data to 1) provide a priori expectations of vegetation classifications, 2) serve as verification for spectral classification, and 3) to form a basis from which to nest the classification results within ongoing ecological research. The second aspect of this research was the use of watershed analytical methods to develop a classification of stream segments based on their macro-scale geomorphic properties. In particular, we used terrain-based algorithms to cluster stream segments to describe their geomorphic confinement. Lastly, to benefit longer-term and more broad scale vegetation mapping efforts throughout the region, we compared two vegetation data, the AVIRIS Riparian classification and CALVEG 2000, to determine which, if any, conclusions could be drawn from the examination.