High-Resolution Antarctic Moss Bed Mapping with UAV and GPS Data

Antarctic Specially Protected Area 135, Robinson Ridge, and Casey station were surveyed in January 2010 using a remote-controlled helicopter for aerial photography and differential GPS for terrain data. The dataset includes georeferenced photo mosaics, digital elevation models (DEMs), hillshades, and shapefiles outlining moss beds, streams, snowlines, and melt lake edges. Data collection was part of AAS Projects 1313 and 4036, led by Professor Sharon Robinson of the University of Wollongong.

Use Cases

• Model moss bed extent and health over time by analyzing the 'RedShed_moss_outline' and 'UAVphoto_2010' mosaic layers.
• Calculate topographic wetness indices for hydrological studies using the 'RedshedWetness' PCRaster file and 'redsheddem' DEM.
• Monitor snowline retreat and streamflow patterns at Robinson Ridge by comparing 'Robbos_snowline' and 'Robbos_streams' shapefiles with newer data.
• Coregister long-term vegetation quadrat monitoring data using the precise marker locations in 'ASPA135_quadrat_markers' and 'Robbos_quadrat_markers' shapefiles.
• Generate high-resolution terrain models for site analysis with the 2 cm horizontal accuracy GPS points in 'ASPA135_roversall' and the derived 'aspa135dem'.

Strengths

• Differential GPS data provides an estimated horizontal accuracy of 2 centimeters.
• Includes multiple complementary data types: DEMs, hillshades, orthophoto mosaics, and vector shapefiles for three distinct Antarctic sites.
• Data supports long-term ecological monitoring, with quadrats established in 2002/03 and monitored at approximately five-year intervals.

Limitations

• Data is from a single snapshot in January 2010, limiting temporal analysis without subsequent surveys.
• Sample size for specific features like moss bed outlines or streamlines is confined to the three small, localized study areas.
• Moss bed outline at the Red Shed is described as 'quite a conservative outside edge', which may not capture full spatial extent.

Provenance

Source

Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AU_AADC), associated with AAS Projects 1313 and 4036.

Collection Method

Aerial photography from a remote-controlled UAV and highly accurate terrain points collected via differential GPS.

Time Range

January 2010.

Freshness

null

Geography

Three locations in Antarctica: Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) 135, Robinson Ridge, and near the Red Shed at Casey station.