Extent of seagrass in Tauranga Harbour: a comparison of satellite automated classification versus manual delineation of aerial imagery
- Author
- Shao, Zhanchao; Vaassen, Sanne; Pullig, Mariane C.
- Year
- 2024
- Journal / Source
- Environmental Research Institute Report for Bay of Plenty Regional Council
- Publisher / Organisation
- University of Waikato
- Number
- 172
- Pages
- 36 pp
- Summary
- This report outlines a comprehensive analysis of seagrass extent in Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand, using advanced remote sensing techniques. It compares two key methods: satellitebased supervised classification using Random Forest, and manual delineation via aerial photography. The research focuses on mapping the spatial and temporal changes in seagrass habitats, particularly the native species Zostera muelleri, from 1959 to 2024. Complementary to the satellite-based classification method, an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) was developed, enabling users to efficiently access satellite imagery and generate detailed habitat maps.