The above figure shows a map of wetlands in Alaska derived from L-band radar imagery acquired by JAXA's JERS-1 SAR. A novel approach was applied to map the wetlands across the broad Alaska landscape utilizing the radar data and ground measurements to develop the classification scheme and to validate the derived wetlands map. This map is the first Alaska-wide map of wetlands developed form a single contiguous data source. The regional high-resolution mapping capability provided by the radar is key to the successful derivation of this large-scale product. This 100-meter resolution Alaska wetlands map provides key information needed for regional- to continental-scale studies focusing on biogeochemistry, hydrology, plant and animal biodiversity, water resource management, and long-term sustainability of wetland ecosystems in Alaska.
Several classes of herbaceous and woody vegetation were successfully classified, with better than 90% classification accuracy relative to the training and validation data sources employed.
For more information, please email Mahta Moghaddam at mmoghadd (at) eecs.umich.edu
This research is undertaken within the framework of the ALOS Kyoto & Carbon Initiative. The ALOS data were provided by JAXA EORC.
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= inland water