Description

Effective monitoring and management of critically important and biodiverse ecosystems requires a comprehensive suite of data and analysis tools. The use of NASA Earth Observations (EO), in particular the combination of multispectral and hyperspectral optical imagery, thermal infrared data, and laser altimeter (LiDAR) data, can provide an increased understanding of ecosystem function. 

This training series highlights the use of hyperspectral Visible to Shortwave Infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectroscopy data, for example from Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer - Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) and Portable Remote Imaging SpectroMeter (PRISM) instruments, for measuring and monitoring terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity (e.g., mapping plant or phytoplankton functional types). The series focuses on using thermal and LiDAR data for characterizing the structure and function of ecosystems using airborne campaigns including the Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) and NASA's Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS). This training also prepares participants to use data from upcoming NASA satellite missions and airborne campaigns such as the much-anticipated Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) mission and the NASA Biodiversity field campaign in the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa (BioSCape).

Prerequisites

Sessions

Part 1

• Overview of hyperspectral visible to Shortwave Infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectroscopy data
• Highlight of hyperspectral instruments for measuring and monitoring terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, such as AVIRIS-NG and PRISM
• Highlight upcoming mission development such as the Surface Geology and Biology (SBG) mission and the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission
• Q&A Session

ARSET Instructors: Amber McCullum, Juan Torres-Pérez, Britnay Beaudry

Materials

• Part 1 Presentation Slides (PDF, 8.0MB)
• Part 1 Q&A Transcript (PDF, 0.2MB)

Part 2

• Thermal and LiDAR data for characterizing the structure and function of ecosystems using airborne campaigns
• Highlight thermal and LiDAR missions such as the Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) and NASA's Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS)
• Highlight the upcoming NASA Biodiversity field campaign in the Greater Cape Floristic Region of South Africa (BioSCape)
• Q&A Session

ARSET Instructors: Amber McCullum, Juan Torres-Pérez, Britnay Beaudry

Materials

• Part 2 Presentation Slides (PDF, 8.2MB)
• Part 2 Q&A Transcript (PDF, 0.2MB)

Part 3

• Capturing the structural component of wetland biodiversity with airborne LiDAR with Atticus Stovall
• Assessing biodiversity with plant functional traits using hyperspectral visible to Shortwave Infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectroscopy data and LiDAR data
• Q&A Session

ARSET Instructors: Amber McCullum, Juan L. Torres-Pérez, Britnay Beaudry

Guest Instructors: Atticus Stovall, University of Maryland/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Phil Townsend, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Materials

• Part 3 Presentation Slides (PDF, 32.9MB)
• Part 3 Q&A Transcript (PDF, 0.2MB)

Part 4

• Watershed scale monitoring of biodiversity at multiple scales using eDNA, remote sensing, and field sampling
  • Highlight of HyTES and AVIRIS-NG data and analogous satellite data from ECOSTRESS and EMIT
  • Overview of how spatial scale influences diversity metrics to inform how we can go from big data to manageable data
• Monitoring aquatic systems using imaging spectroscopy and airborne campaigns
  • Highlight of PRISM applications
  • Highlight of PACE preparatory data
• Q&A Session

ARSET Instructors: Amber McCullum, Juan L. Torres-Pérez, Britnay Beaudry

Guest Instructors: Natasha Stavros, Director of the Earth Lab Analytics Hub, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Studies (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder and Liane Guild, NASA Ames Research Center

Materials

• Part 4 Presentation Slides (PDF, 8.9MB)
• Part 4 Q&A Transcript (PDF, 0.2MB)

Homework

• Homework