Synergy of HyMap and Digital Elevation Data
Analysis of Upland Peat Erosion Patterns
Funding
British National Space Centre, National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd, Manchester Geographical Society, Manchester University, Faculty of Arts.
Senior Researchers:
Julia McMorrow (University of Manchester).
Co-Researchers:
Dr Martin Evans (University of Manchester).
Dr Mark Cutler (University of Dundee).
Amer Al-Riochdi (University of Manchester)
Background
Severe erosion of blanket peat in the southern Pennines (Figure 1) is a major environmental problem that requires mapping and monitoring at regular intervals. Traditionally, manual interpretation of aerial photography and field survey were used to map exposed peat and describe the erosion patterns, but are labour intensive and subjective. Hyperspectral remote sensing using sensors with many narrow bands offers an efficient and valuable tool in mapping and monitoring upland peat distribution and the composition of surface peat. This project aims to combine information from HyMap, a hyperspectral airborne sensor, with digital elevation data to improve understanding of peat composition and peat erosion patterns.
Data
HyMap images at a spatial resolution of 3m and 5m (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4) were collected in the summer of 2000 as part of the SAR and Hyperspectral Airborne Campaign (SHAC) funded by NRSC and BNSC
A DEM at 5m (Figure 5) spatial resolution was provided from X band dual pass interferometry. X and L band polarimetric ESAR synthetic aperture radar data were also collected.
Ground-based spectra (Figure 6) were collected concurrently using the ASD FieldSpec spectroradiometer, loaned from the NERC Equipment Pool for Field Spectroscopy.
Aims and methods
The data are being used to derive information on three components:
1. Peat composition: Relationships between ASD and HyMap spectra and the degree of peat humification and peat water content are being analysed. From this, new indices of peat composition, especially humification, are being developed using multiple regression and artificial neural networks. Recent research includes the investigation of moisture content and surface texture on peat laboratory spectra collected using the ASD in contact probe mode.
2. Vegetation and surface cover: Fuzzy classification methods are being used to determine the proportion of exposed peat and vegetation composition, both of which are important hydrological variables.
3. Peat erosion patterns: Spatial relationships are being analysed between peat distribution, peat composition, vegetation and terrain. We are investigating the use landscape ecology metrics to characterise the spatial structure of peat erosion patterns.
Project outputs
Alroichdi, A., McMorrow, J.M. and Evans, M.G (2007) Laboratory spectro-radiometric prediction of peat decomposition: comparison of transmission, lignin-cellulose and other biochemical indices. RSPSoc07, Newcastle Sept 07, Poster paper. Merit award.
Al-Roichdi, A., McMorrow, J.M. and Evans, M.G (2007) ‘A decision tree approach to predict humification of organic soils’ EARSeL 5th Workshop on Imaging Spectroscopy, Bruges, Belgium, 23-25 April 2007.
McMorrow, J.M., Lindsay, J.B. and Liddaman, L.C. (2006) Mapping and encoding the spatial pattern of peat erosion. Final report, Moors for the Future for Small Project Grant No. A79419_spg_Man_McMorrow, July 2006.
McMorrow, J.M., Alroichdi, A., Evans, M.G. and Cutler, M.E. (2005) Hyperspectral remote sensing of peat humification. In, B. Zagajewski And M. Sobczak, Imaging Spectroscopy: New Quality In Environmental Studies, Proceedings EARSeL 4th Workshop on Imaging Spectroscopy, Warsaw, Poland, 27-29 April 2005.. Warsaw University and European Association of Rekote Sensing Laboratories, Paris. pp 193-204.
McMorrow, J.M., Alroichdi, A., Evans, M. and Cutler, M, (2005) Modelling the humification of exposed blanket peat with HyMap data. Poster presented at Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc) annual conference,Measuring, Mapping and Managing a Hazardous World, Portsmouth, 6-9 September 2005.
Alroichdi, A., McMorrow, J.M. and Evans, M.G (2005) Estimating peat moisture content using simulated HyMap reflectance. (PowerPoint) Poster presented at Airborne Imaging Spectroscopy Workshop, Bruges, 6 October 2005.
Liddaman L, McMorrow J, Evans M, Lindsay J. (2005). Pattern metrics as a tool for classifying the erosion status of blanket peat. Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers Annual Meeting, London, UK, August 31 to September 2.
McMorrow, J., Al-Roichdi, A, Evans, M.G. and Cutler, M.E. (2004) 'Estimation of physico-chemical properties of exposed upland peat from HyMap spectra'. Paper presented at the 4th Airborne Imaging Spectroscopy Workshop, Bruges, Belgium, 8 October 2004.
Available online from: telsat.belspo.be/documents/bruhyp2004.html
McMorrow, J., Al-Roichdi, A, Evans, M.G. and Cutler, M.E. (2004) 'Variations in upland peat properties: analysis of hyperspectral data'. Paper presented at the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric Society (RSPSoc) annual conference, Aberdeen, 7-10 September 2004.
Liddaman, L.C. J. McMorrow, J.M. and Evans, M.G. (2004) 'Eroding blanket peat: utilising pattern analysis to assess areal and scale dependence of upland landscape structures' Poster paper presented at Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric Society (RSPSoc) annual conference, Aberdeen, 7-10 September 2004.
Liddaman, L. (2004) 'The use of pattern analysis to assess the scale dependence of upland landscape structures in eroding blanket peat'. Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric Society (RSPSoc) Student meeting, Edinburgh, 1-2 April 2004.
McMorrow, J.M., Cutler, M.E., Evans, M. and Al-Roichdi, A., (2004) 'Hyperspectral indices for characterising upland peat composition', International Journal of Remote Sensing, 25 (2): 313-325.
McMorrow, J.M., Al-Roichdi, A., Evans, M. and Cutler, M.E. (2003) 'The effect of moisture content and humification on the hyperspectral reflectance of peat' Scales and Dynamics in Observing the Environment, Proc. Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric Society (RSPSoc) Conference, Nottingham, 10-12 Sept 2003, CDROM, Nottingham: RSPSoc [Download PDF 290KB].
Al-Roichdi, A. McMorrow, J.M. and Evans, M.G. (2003) 'The effect of moisture content on peat reflectance: drying experiments using the ASD contact probe'. Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric Society (RSPSoc) Student meeting, Nottingham, 25 March 2003.
McMorrow, J.M., Evans, M., Cutler, M.E.J and Al-Roichdi, A. 'Towards hyperspectral indices of upland peat composition', Proc. NERC conference on Field Spectral Measurements, Southampton 15-16 April 2002.
Cutler, M.E., McMorrow, J.M. and Evans, M.E 'Remote sensing of peat erosion in the southern Pennines, Northwest Geography 2(1): 20-30 and online www.art.man.ac.uk/Geog/mangeogsoc/4_2_1_2002.htm
McMorrow, J.M., Cutler,.M.E.J., and Evans, M.E., (2002) Synergy of HyMap and digital elevation data for the analysis of upland peat erosion patterns and composition. Final report to British National Space centre, and NERC for SAR and Hyperspectral Airborne Campaign (SHAC), [Download 17KB PDF], [Download accompanying images - zip file 1.66MB].