This is an article from the Summer 2015 VPS. For more VPS articles, click here
The Ocmulgee River south of Macon, Georgia, as seen across Landsat 8 true color, near infrared, ecological heat map, and 2014 land cover classification. Image Credit: Ocmulgee Ecological Forecasting II Team
Category:åÊAnalyzing Human and Environmental Health
Project Team: Ocmulgee Ecological Forecasting II
Team Location: University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia
Authors:
Christopher Cameron
Andrew Herring
Ayn Remillard
Zhan Shi
Mentors/Advisors:
Dr. Thomas Jordan (Center for Geospatial Research, University of Georgia)
Dr. Marguerite Madden (Center for Geospatial Research, University of Georgia)
Abstract:
The Ocmulgee River corridor is home to unique species such as Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, black bear, and millions of migratory birds. It also holds a rich archaeological record of Native American settlement. Over the years, this area has experienced increasing urbanization pressure. The NASA DEVELOP Ocmulgee Ecological Forecasting team partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) to conduct a project focused on conserving the Ocmulgee River corridor. The goal of this project was to analyze land cover trends over the past 15 years using National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) classifications and recent Landsat 8 images to predict future changes within the Ocmulgee River valley. With this in mind, a current land cover map was created and the team performed a time-series analysis. Threatened and endangered species habitats and hydrologic characteristics were overlaid with the classification maps to identify areas of concern. Using the results of this project, the GA DNR will be able to prioritize conservation of high risk areas and identify areas of future concern.