Dimos Traganos, PhD’s Post

🌊 Harnessing GIS & Remote Sensing for Coral Reef Conservation 🌍 Coral reefs are vital yet vulnerable ecosystems, and GIS and Remote Sensing are transforming how we understand and protect them. Here's how these technologies contribute: 📍 Mapping Coral Reefs: High-resolution satellite imagery enables accurate mapping of reef structures and types. 🌡️ Monitoring Health: Multispectral imagery detects coral bleaching and stress by analyzing color variations in reef pixels. 🔄 Tracking Environmental Changes: Integrating spatial data with GIS helps assess threats like rising sea temperatures and pollution. 🌱 Biodiversity Analysis: Identifying habitat types and hotspots for conservation priorities. 🔮 Predictive Modeling: Forecasting future reef conditions to guide proactive conservation planning. With ongoing advancements, GIS & Remote Sensing are essential for a resilient future for coral reefs! 🐠💧 #CoralConservation #GIS #RemoteSensing #Sustainability #OceanHealth

𝟱𝟬 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: 5-m NICFI - Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative Planet mosaic of the broader Bombetoka Bay (NW Madagascar) - a global hot spot of coastal #bluecarbon and #biodiversity, but also wide-ranging #waterquality and #turbidity. This 113x49.6-km mosaic showcases the variability but also the arising challenges of coastal aquatic #remotesensing, especially in tropical waters and environments. Tropical coastal systems typically exhibit up to 90% of cloud coverage annually, which impedes traditional single image-based approaches. On top of cloud and, thus, cloud shadow impedances, persistent seasonal and yearlong turbidity - as the case of the depicted Bombetoka Bay - additionally blocks light penetration, further challenging high-confidence detection of any seabed property (e.g. seagrasses, corals, bathymetry). Bombetoka Bay has experienced a dramatic increase in sediment transport via the Betsiboka river during the past 30 years, which is being deposited in the estuary and the offshore delta lobes, among predominantly mangrove stands and coral reefs and seagrass meadows, onshore and nearshore, respectively. Broadly, along the west Madagascar coastline, the main composition of suspended sediments that shape water quality originates from laterites - iron and aluminum-rich rocks that are severely transformed by tropical weathering on the Madagascar highlands - turning the waters red. Other coastal environments of the world feature different hues (e.g. brown, yellow, green) depending on the nature of the #sedimentation and upstream source e.g. marine mud, fluvial sediments, nutrients and by-products of human activities. In addition to yearlong cloud and turbidity intensity, there are also other natural usual suspects that impede #EarthObservation-guided assessments of coastal waters, e.g. sunglint, waves, that are more pronounced in different wavelengths. The described natural complexities and challenges highlight the importance of the availability of near-daily high-resolution satellite imagery, like Planet's deep temporal archive, paired with suitable satellite tech analytics with suitable pre-processing and #analysisreadydata algorithms. But they also highlight the need to integrate #ecological and #geomorphological knowledge in large-scale spaceborne assessments to better characterize the trajectory, condition & ecology of coastal environments. Through the Planet's Startup Program, Ocean Ledger has access to near-daily high-resolution archive from 2014 to today, allowing us to flexibly toggle our analytics to resolve the aforementioned challenges in a purely automated and highly scalable fashion. This enables high-confidence granular historical, baseline and scenario analyses of coastal indicators, insights and risks through a unique fusion of remote sensing, cloud computing, biophysical modelling and field data. Image Credit: Planet Labs PBC

What can you see in 40 years of tree and #forest cover, #NDVI, and #biomass data covering 1078 islands spanning 17 ecoregions across the world's oceans? As it turns out, in the right hands, you can see the effects of removing harmful invasive species on #biodiversity and #carbon. A scientific paper describing the world's first global system to monitor ecosystem effects of invasive species eradications was published last week in the journal #EnvironmentalResearchLetters. The paper was led by terraPulse scientist Miroslav Honzák and coauthored by Chief Scientist Joe Sexton and Chief Technology Officer Min Feng, who developed the remote sensing algorithms and global data system, as well partners from Island Conservation, FLINTpro, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland , and ASU Center for Biodiversity Outcomes. The system, which is now in active operation, leverages 40 years of #NASA #Landsat and other data to retrieve ecological histories for each island, monitor present conditions, and detect changes in key variables due to removal of nonnative herbivores and other harmful exotic species. Thanks to Salesforce Nature Accelerator, Predator Free 2050 Limited, Clare Foundation, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and others for their investment and support of this milestone in the progress of Earth science to action! Read Island Conservation's press release here: https://lnkd.in/eX-VC6gY And read the full peer-reviewed, open-access article here: https://lnkd.in/dCgZeNqG

#GIS has also enabled the construction of environmental digital twins. Researchers apply GIS to map and generate digital twins that detail the coral environment and behavior. The digital twins help scientists understand the dispersal of adolescent and adult coral and helps with conservation. Read the full article here

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography's 100 Island Challenge captured an ecological survey of coral reefs in the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian oceans. This post by Dawn Wright, PhD showcases how environmental digital twins of each island reveals resilience and the impact of human activities on reef health. The digital twins have helped scientists understand the dispersal of adolescent and adult coral. GIS tools can even measure the buffering zones around different coral types in various stages of development to see how they interact with each other. https://lnkd.in/gha2criP

🌊 Exploring Sturgeon Habitats with Advanced Technology 🐟   Acoustic Bottom Classification focuses on categorizing the seabed's surface composition and structure using the acoustic response of sound waves. The key metric is acoustic backscatter, which varies based on sediment type (harder materials like rock or gravel reflect more sound, while softer ones like mud reflect less) and surface roughness.   💡 Key Data Sources: • Multibeam echo sounders (#MBES) measure backscatter data for bottom classification. • Single-beam echo Sounders (#SBES) classify the seabed based on echo intensity. • Side-scan sonars (#SSS) provide detailed seafloor imagery.   🖼️ Seafloor Characteristics Detected: • Grain size (fine-grained mud, medium sand, or coarse gravel). • Hardness (soft mud vs. hard bedrock). • Biological cover (e.g., seagrass or coral).   Acoustic Bottom Classification relies on signal processing and machine learning algorithms to classify the seafloor. It's used in marine habitat mapping, sediment classification, environmental monitoring, and fisheries research. Ground-truthing techniques (sediment samples or underwater video) are often used to validate acoustic data for better accuracy.   At Marine Research, we are committed to uncovering the mysteries of the underwater world and finding sustainable solutions for marine development. The image you see here is an Acoustic Bottom Classification map, generated from high-resolution sonar data. This map highlights different seabed types—clay, sand, and gravel—which are critical for identifying sturgeon habitats.   🔍 The circles represent the locations where sediment samples were taken to calibrate the sonar data. Using state-of-the-art technologies like acoustic mapping allows us to see below the water’s surface and better understand these ecosystems in a non-invasive way.   🛠️ This research is crucial for: • Identifying and preserving sensitive habitats 🏞️ • Supporting sustainable fishing practices 🛥️ • Guiding ecological development of marine infrastructure 🌱   🌐 With modern tools, we can minimize our impact on these environments and make informed decisions that protect marine life, such as the endangered sturgeon species, while promoting responsible development.   🌍 Using acoustic seabed classification helps us transform data into action, and action into meaningful conservation efforts.   #MarineResearch #AcousticMapping #SeabedClassification #SustainableDevelopment #SturgeonHabitat #MarineConservation #EcologicalSolutions #UnderwaterExploration #TechForGood #OceanScience #MarineTechnology #OceanMapping #SonarSurvey #SeabedExploration #Hydrography #MarineEcosystems #ConservationScience #EndangeredSpecies #SustainableOceans #AcousticBottomClassification

🌱 Let us once more shine a light on #seagrass. This small plant has huge impact on ocean health and #coastal resilience. Researchers worldwide agree that seagrass meadows count among the most common marine coastal biotopes, and are hotspots for both #biodiversity and productivity. (Source Nature Magazine: https://lnkd.in/dHVfAtF3) . According to UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, seagrasses provide many important services to both ecosystems and humankind on over 300,000 km2 and +150 countries: - They are nursery habitat and shelter for fish or crustaceans, thus providing food. - Seagrass meadows are home to fascinating species, such as dugongs, seahorses and sea turtles. - They function as water purification or carbon storage and weaken storm impacts. - Seagrass is a sustainable source of renewable raw material and energy. - Last, but not least, seagrass meadows serve as ecological indicators of water quality and coastal biotopes. To keep these #ecosystems healthy, we need to understand their coverage, health status, and development. This is why ISPRA – on behalf of the Italian Ministry for the Environment – is mapping coastal and marine habitats as part of the "Marine Ecosystem Restoration" (MER) project along 8,000 kilometers of the Italian coast, from 2024 to 2026. Special focus is being given to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and #Natura2000 sites. EOMAP - as a partner for the project consortium led by Fugro – contributes to this farsighted endeavour by mapping habitats of #Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa from Space. These satellite-based measurements are a key component of the project. Along with satellite-based mapping and monitoring seagrass meadows we provide 🌱 spatio-temporal information which refers to seagrass and defines both its biomass build-up and health. 🌱 These include ongoing analysis on water clarity and eutrophication and seabed parameters (using eoapp AQUA) 🌱 as well as sediment dynamics on the seabed (using eoapp SDB-Online). Please get in touch with us or read more on habitat mapping here: https://lnkd.in/dNJXa-R4 📷 The image (courtesy of Fugro) shows preliminary classification details of two seagrass species we have mapped along the Ligurian coast. #healthyocean #EUBiodiversity #HabitatsDirective #hydrospatial #remotesensing #environmental #bluecarbon #oceandecade #detectmore

"But to fully understand a coastal zone - and the impact of human activity on it - we need to be able to consider and analyse the different characteristics of the zones and the complex interplay of variables that can impact these unique landscapes. The recently launched Copernicus Coastal Hub aims to facilitate this kind of comprehensive analysis by providing an integrated platform for accessing a wide range of coastal data." #satellitedata #remotesensing #coastalzone

CGI Earth Observation Solutions for Vegetation (CEOS-VEG) monitors the degradation of mangroves in Madagascar, which are carbon sinks and home to wildlife. CEOS-VEG is a framework that allows the development of Earth observation (EO) end-user solutions in various applicability domains. CEOS-VEG generates mangrove degradation maps from satellite observations, analyzes the vulnerability of mangroves due to human activities and provides usable results. Learn more about how to advance toward a more sustainable future through space-based data and technology. https://go.cgi.com/3KdBeJ6 #earthobservation #spacetechnology #spacedata #sustainability #climatechange