Coastal Sediment Dynamics, Ecology and Detection of Coral Reef Macroalgae from AVIRIS-NG

This article highlights major scientific outcomes of the studies carried out using Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) airborne data over the coastal regions of Mangaluru, Gulf of Kachchh (GoK) and Chilika lagoon. Various hyperspectral remote sensing techniques involving bio-optical models and spectral classification algorithms are used to achieve different objectives related to coastal ecosystem monitoring. AVIRIS-NG airborne data are used to estimate particle size of suspended solids along the coastal waters of Mangaluru using an analytical optical model. The spatial distribution of particle size of the suspended solids in the coastal waters is brought out, while along the coastal land of Mangaluru, the beaches are classified based on uniform sediment characteristics using spectral matching algorithm. AVIRIS-NG data for Pirotan reef in GoK is analysed and species-level identification of the dominant brown macroalgae is carried out. Species-level distribution of brown macroalgae is mapped and used to study the microhabitat preference of different species. At Chilika lagoon, the AVIRIS-NG data are analysed to map the abundance of submerged seagrass using bio-optical model, which provides vital information to the coastal management community. The study asserts the importance of hyperspectral data and various advanced data analysis techniques related to the estimation of geophysical parameters of the coastal waters and monitoring the vital coastal ecosystems.