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What is the Value of a Good Map? An Example Using High Spatial Resolution Imagery to Aid Riparian Restoration

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Abstract

Riparian areas contain structurally diverse habitats that are challenging to monitor routinely and accurately over broad areas. As the structural variability within riparian areas is often indiscernible using moderate-scale satellite imagery, new mapping techniques are needed. We used high spatial resolution satellite imagery from the QuickBird satellite to map harvested and intact forests in coastal British Columbia, Canada. We distinguished forest structural classes used in riparian restoration planning, each with different restoration costs. To assess the accuracy of high spatial resolution imagery relative to coarser imagery, we coarsened the pixel resolution of the image, repeated the classifications, and compared results. Accuracy assessments produced individual class accuracies ranging from 70 to 90% for most classes; whilst accuracies obtained using coarser scale imagery were lower. We also examined the implications of map error on riparian restoration budgets derived from our classified maps. To do so, we modified the confusion matrix to create a cost error matrix quantifying costs associated with misclassification. High spatial resolution satellite imagery can be useful for riparian mapping; however, errors in restoration budgets attributable to misclassification error can be significant, even when using highly accurate maps. As the spatial resolution of imagery increases, it will be used more routinely in ecosystem ecology. Thus, our ability to evaluate map accuracy in practical, meaningful ways must develop further. The cost error matrix is one method that can be adapted for conservation and planning decisions in many ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

This research, including funds for YS and KK, was funded by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range and NSERC Discovery grants to SEG. KJ was supported by Tropical Savannas CRC and a University of Queensland Graduate School Research Travel Award. D. Collins, A. MacKinnon, Parks Canada staff at Pacific Rim National Park, our field crew, S. Agbayani, W. Warttig, and S. Thompson deserve thanks for their assistance. Two anonymous reviewers provided detailed comments that significantly improved this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Applied Conservation Research, 2424 Main Mall, Forest Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Sarah E. Gergel, Yulia Stange & Kathryn R. Kirby

  2. Department of Forest Resource Management, 2424 Main Mall, Forest Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Nicholas C. Coops

  3. Centre for Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Science, School of Geography, Planning and Architecture Chamberlain Building 35, The University of Queensland Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Kasper Johansen

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  1. Sarah E. Gergel
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Correspondence to Sarah E. Gergel.

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Gergel, S.E., Stange, Y., Coops, N.C. et al. What is the Value of a Good Map? An Example Using High Spatial Resolution Imagery to Aid Riparian Restoration. Ecosystems 10, 688–702 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-007-9040-0

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