Linking biological survey data to remote sensing datasets

Remote sensing is widely used as a tool to map and monitor environmental attributes, such as vegetation. This paper describes a native vegetation ground data collection protocol that attempts to integrate the spatial resolution of several remotely sensed datasets and the spatial variation of vegetation into a framework. A particular challenge of this study was to use pre-existing vegetation survey methodology and adapt this for use with a number of remote sensing satellite systems. The spatial properties of remotely sensed data were explored by calculating textural measures for images at progressively coarser spatial resolutions, allowing sources of remotely sensed data for this project to be evaluated, with respect to spatial scale. This study forms part of a larger project which investigates the potential use of remotely sensed data in the development of a vegetation assessment framework, providing linkages between variables at site, landscape, and regional scales