Drone the System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP): Assessing the Utility of Drones for Monitoring Coastal Wetlands

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Date & Time: 29 June 2022, 3 – 4 pm ET

Title: Drone the System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP): Assessing the Utility of Drones for Monitoring Coastal Wetlands

Presenter(s): 

• Brandon Puckett, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

• Whitney Jenkins, North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve

• Cristiana Falvo, Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab

• Justin Ridge,  Duke University Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab

• Brittany Morse, North Inlet – Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

• Allix North, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

• Erik Smith, North Inlet – Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Sponsor(s): This webinar is sponsored by the NERRS Science Collaborative

Seminar Contact(s): Doug George (douglas.george@noaa.gov) or Nick Soberal (nsoberal@umich.edu)

Remote Access: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8648906221675140110 

Abstract
Tidal wetland monitoring is critical for detecting changes and managing these vulnerable coastal ecosystems. Wetland monitoring programs typically use ground-based measurements or satellite observations to track changes at small and large scales – but these approaches may miss important processes that occur at intermediate spatial scales or result from discrete events such as extreme storms. Mounting sensors on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – commonly known as drones – offers an opportunity to radically improve tidal wetland monitoring programs by providing high spatial resolution, coverage, and customization on the operator’s schedule.

This project team worked with the six National Estuarine Research Reserves in the Southeast and Caribbean to develop, assess, and collaboratively refine a protocol for drone operation, data management, and data analysis. In this webinar, which will consist of a presentation and panel discussion, members of the project team will talk about their approach – which pairs ground-based validation and drone-based observation to estimate common wetland monitoring parameters – as well as the collaborative process that enabled them to develop the protocols. They will also share lessons learned, products developed, and benefits that have emerged from this work.

Bio(s): Please visit here for more information about the webinar.

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{Brandon Puckett, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, brandon.puckett@noaa.gov; Whitney Jenkins, North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, whitney.jenkins@ncdenr.gov; Cristiana Falvo, Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab, cristiana.falvo@duke.edu; Justin Ridge,  Duke University Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab, justin.ridge@duke.edu; Brittany Morse, North Inlet – Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, brittany@baruch.sc.edu; Allix North, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Allix.North@dep.state.fl.us; Erik Smith, North Inlet – Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, erik@baruch.sc.edu } 
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