Evaluation of a Method for Measuring Lateral Obscuration of Coastal Marsh Vegetation in Louisiana

Abstract

This technical note presents the results of a pilot study evaluating the efficacy of using an image-derived, vegetative lateral obscuration ratio as an indicator of wave and flow hindrance in coastal Louisiana. The note discusses: (1) field methodology and equipment used to take the lateral photo, (2) comparisons between two different image analysis methods used to calculate the obscuration ratio, and (3) correlations among the obscuration ratios with vertical biomass distribution and density for two different coastal marsh plant species. Additionally, advantages, limitations, potential improvements to the methodology, and how results could be incorporated into wave attenuation modeling are also presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA520823

Entities

People

  • Brady Couvillon
  • Gregg Snedden
  • Gregory D. Steyer
  • Jane Mc Kee Smith
  • Jeff P. Lin
  • Sally L. Yost
  • Scott Boume

Organizations

  • Engineer Research and Development Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cameras
  • Coastal Engineering
  • Data Sets
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Feature Extraction
  • Graphical User Interface
  • Image Processing
  • Light Sources
  • Louisiana
  • Obscuration
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Pilot Studies
  • Plants
  • Regression Analysis
  • Vegetation

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Wetland-Land-Environmental Management.