Hyperspectral monitoring of coral reefs : a case study : Fordate, Tanimbar, Indonesia

Coral reefs are endangered world-wide by devastating fishing methods (overfishing, dynamite and cyanide fishery), pollution, tourism, environmental changes and bleaching. The aim of this project is to monitor coral reefs and associated ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass beds) by integrating different remote sensing data with spectral libraries and field measurements. The study area is Fordate, a small island to the northeast of Tanimbar, Indonesia. The monitoring system under development will enable not only the mapping of the coral reefs but has also the potential to localize those parts of the reefs that are most affected by degradation. A first test with super-spectral data from the CHRIS/PROBA sensor shows promising results for the discrimination of different bottom types on the Pulau Nukaha patch reef east of Fordate. A classification technique based on a binary decision tree approach will be used for further work. Field sampling and spectral measurements will be carried out to validate this classification technique