Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Change Detection in NCCN Parks in Support of NCCN Landscape Dynamics Monitoring

Project ID: P12AC15058

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2012

Initial Funding: $13,715

Total Funding: $13,715

Project Type: Technical Assistance

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: North Coast and Cascades Network Inventory & Monitoring

Principal Investigator: Yang, Zhiqiang

Agreement Technical Representative: Copass, Catharine

Abstract: Oregon State University (OSU) and the National Park Service (NPS) will collaborate on a project of mutual assistance, the public purpose of which is to support landscape dynamics monitoring in the Pacific Northwest and in the North Coast and Cascade Network (NCCN) parks. OSU has developed a change detection process, called LandTrendr, which has been shown to provide the information needed to meet change detection monitoring goals. The primary output from the LandTrendr process is maps of spectral change that allow the separation of landscape change by magnitude, intensity and duration. This project is a continuation of a collaborative effort to provide processed Landsat satellite imagery and unfiltered LandTrendr outputs for the Landsat scenes that encompass several NCCN parks. OSU will utilize the latest LandTrendr algorithms to produce the following products: processed Landsat imagery, and unfiltered maps of areas of the greatest, fast disturbance generated by the LandTrendr algorithm. NPS will provide continuing expertise regarding geospatial aspects of the study areas, including recommendations to OSU on the format and content of the LandTrendr maps, and will review draft data sets and products. Public benefits include implementation of the Landscape Dynamics Monitoring Protocol, which produces baseline information about the various landscape changes within and around several National Parks. The Landscape Dynamics Monitoring Protocol and resulting maps can be used by other interested parties for landscape assessments of large areas of public land in the Pacific Northwest.

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