Hyperspectral Coral Reef Imagery for Hawaiian Islands

AURORA hyperspectral imaging captured 72 spectral bands at 3-meter resolution to map benthic habitats around Oahu and other main Hawaiian islands. The project was a cooperative effort involving NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the University of Hawaii, and Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii. Data collection and processing aimed to develop and compare coral reef mapping methods using different imagery sources.

Use Cases

• Classify benthic habitat types (e.g., coral, algae, sand) using the 72 ten-nanometer spectral bands in the visible and near-infrared range.
• Analyze coral reef community structure over time by comparing hyperspectral imagery with other data sources like IKONOS satellite imagery.
• Detect features in shallow and deep water by utilizing processed band widths optimized for underwater feature detection.
• Delineate habitat boundaries for GIS analysis via photointerpretation of the 3-meter pixel resolution georeferenced imagery.

Strengths

• 72 spectral bands provide high spectral resolution for detailed feature discrimination.
• 3-meter pixel resolution offers fine spatial detail for habitat boundary delineation.
• Data processed with specific band selection to optimize feature detection in aquatic environments.

Limitations

• Data is from the year 2000, making it temporally stale for analyzing recent coral reef changes.
• Specific sample size (number of images or area covered) and file formats are not documented.
• Focus is on the main Hawaiian Islands, limiting geographic applicability to other reef systems.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), University of Hawaii, Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii.

Collection Method

Data collected by the AURORA hyperspectral imaging system and processed for band selection; habitat maps generated by photointerpreting georeferenced imagery.

Time Range

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Freshness

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Geography

Main Eight Hawaiian Islands, with specific mention of Oahu.