Coastal and Marine Mapping & Monitoring
Selected Research Projects
The Remote Sensing Research Centre coastal and marine mapping and monitoring activities involves developing applications at local to global scale for government and non-government agencies. The research focusses on developing methods that integrate various forms of field data including citizen science, remote sensing data and techniques to map and monitor coastal habitats over time and space e.g. coral reefs and seagrass. The research has been conducted locally at Heron Reef and Moreton Bay since 1999 and other reefs in Asia Pacific and globally.
3D Great Barrier Reef Habitat Mapping
To monitor, model and manage the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), we developed and implemented habitat mapping approaches for the shallow reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The work builds on the initial work at Heron and in the Asia-Pacific, and pilot studies in the Capricorn Bunker Group and central GBR. This research involves machine learning, object based analysis, field data, Earth observation and using ecologically driven knowledge resulting in geomorphic zonation, benthic composition, and predicted coral type.
Global Coral Reef Mapping: Allen Coral Atlas
A global coral reef map with geomorphic and benthic composition was created with methods developed by the UQ team extending the GBR work to reefs globally, as part of an international partnership through the Allen Coral Atlas.
Coral Reef Habitat Mapping and Monitoring
Our research has focussed on developing suitable calibration and validation field methods and mapping and monitoring approaches. This includes the development of simple methods that include collection and automated analysis of geolocated photo quadrates applicable globally, and collection of underwater spectral signatures. Heron Reef is considered our local lab where we have been conducting annual surveys since 2001
Seagrass Habitat Mapping and Monitoring
This project aims to understand the biophysical characteristics of seagrass in space and time through focused studies at Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay, Queensland since 1999.
Capacity Building and Citizen Science
The Remote Sensing Research Centre is a strong supporter of capacity building and citizen science. The RSRC provides workshops face to face and online in coastal and marine remote sensing to various government and non-government agencies globally, and supports citizen science based monitoring and mapping projects.
Field photos for scaling up
Close range imaging or field photography are used to derive information on the environment such species composition and abundance, deceases, and 3D structural complexity.
Current Coastal and Research Projects
Learn more about all of our current coastal and research projects.
