Preface
Overview. Remote sensing stands as the defining technology in our ability to
monitor coral reefs, as well as their biophysical properties and associated processes,
at regional to global scales. With overwhelming evidence that much of Earth’s reefs
are in decline, our need for large scale, repeatable assessments of reefs has never
been so great. Fortunately, the last two decades have seen a rapid expansion in the
ability for remote sensing to map and monitor coral reef ecosystems, as well as the
overlying water column and surrounding environment.
Remote sensing is now a fundamental tool for the mapping, monitoring and
management of coral reef ecosystems. Remote sensing offers repeatable, quantitative assessments of habitat and environmental characteristics over spatially
extensive areas. As the multi-disciplinary field of coral reef remote sensing continues to mature, results demonstrate that the techniques and capabilities continue
to improve. New developments allow reef assessments and mapping to be performed with higher accuracy, across greater spatial areas, and with greater temporal frequency. The increased level of information that remote sensing now
makes available also allows more complex scientific questions to be addressed.
As defined for this book, remote sensing includes the vast array of geospatial
data collected from land, water, ship, airborne, and satellite platforms. The book is
organized by technology, including: visible and infrared sensing using photographic, multispectral and hyperspectral instruments; active sensing using light
detection and ranging (LiDAR); acoustic sensing using ship, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and in-water platforms; and thermal and radar instruments.
Emphasis and Audience. This book serves multiple roles. It offers an overview of
the current state-of-the-art technologies for reef mapping, provides detailed
technical information for coral reef remote sensing specialists, imparts insight on
the scientific questions that can be tackled using this technology, and also includes
a foundation for those new to reef remote sensing. The individual sections of the
book include introductory overviews of four main types of remotely sensed data
used to study coral reefs, followed by specific examples demonstrating practical
applications of the different technologies being discussed. Guidelines for selecting
vii
Overview. Remote sensing stands as the defining technology in our ability to
monitor coral reefs, as well as their biophysical properties and associated processes,
at regional to global scales. With overwhelming evidence that much of Earth’s reefs
are in decline, our need for large scale, repeatable assessments of reefs has never
been so great. Fortunately, the last two decades have seen a rapid expansion in the
ability for remote sensing to map and monitor coral reef ecosystems, as well as the
overlying water column and surrounding environment.
Remote sensing is now a fundamental tool for the mapping, monitoring and
management of coral reef ecosystems. Remote sensing offers repeatable, quantitative assessments of habitat and environmental characteristics over spatially
extensive areas. As the multi-disciplinary field of coral reef remote sensing continues to mature, results demonstrate that the techniques and capabilities continue
to improve. New developments allow reef assessments and mapping to be performed with higher accuracy, across greater spatial areas, and with greater temporal frequency. The increased level of information that remote sensing now
makes available also allows more complex scientific questions to be addressed.
As defined for this book, remote sensing includes the vast array of geospatial
data collected from land, water, ship, airborne, and satellite platforms. The book is
organized by technology, including: visible and infrared sensing using photographic, multispectral and hyperspectral instruments; active sensing using light
detection and ranging (LiDAR); acoustic sensing using ship, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and in-water platforms; and thermal and radar instruments.
Emphasis and Audience. This book serves multiple roles. It offers an overview of
the current state-of-the-art technologies for reef mapping, provides detailed
technical information for coral reef remote sensing specialists, imparts insight on
the scientific questions that can be tackled using this technology, and also includes
a foundation for those new to reef remote sensing. The individual sections of the
book include introductory overviews of four main types of remotely sensed data
used to study coral reefs, followed by specific examples demonstrating practical
applications of the different technologies being discussed. Guidelines for selecting
vii