Hyperspectral identification of coral reef features

Remote sensing is regarded as an efficient and accurate tool for mapping and monitoring changes in coral reef extent and well being consistently over large geographic areas. However, several operational restrictions limit the accuracy with which coral reefs can be monitored remotely. A primary restriction is that the spectral responses of numerous features in the coral reef environment are optically similar, which has the potential of contributing to misclassification errors. In 1996, spectral reflectance data were collected in Fiji using an in situ underwater cosine receptor and a 10m underwater fibre optic cable, which permitted sampling at depth while scuba diving. In 1997, spectral reflectance in situ measurements of exposed coral reef features with little or no water cover were collected in Indonesia using the same radiometer, but a nonwaterproof remote cosine receptor. These spectral datasets were compared and analysed to test the following hypotheses. First, geographic location does not affect the ...