with aerial photography, and more recently in combination with satellite remotely
sensed data (Green et al., 1996; Edwards, 1999a; Dadouh-Guebas, 2002; Joyce et al.,
2002). Recent reviews outline the capabilities of remote sensing for environmental
monitoring in terms of the data sets and technical approaches applicable for change
analysis for terrestrial environments (Coppin, 2003; Treitz, 2003); water quality
parameters; and for mapping substrate types, such as coral, seagrass and algae (Green
et al., 1996, 2000; Edwards, 1999b; Dekker et al., 2001b). This chapter will place the
information contained in these reviews within a context of typical requirements for
managing coastal environments. With the notable exception of Edwards (1999a), and
Green et al. (1996, 2000), there is little guidance provided to coastal resource managers
as to how to practically integrate remotely sensed data within existing field programs
for use in monitoring and management activities.
A number of useful surveys covering practical applications or evaluations of
remotely sensed data have been published recently (Green et al., 1996, 2000; Wallace
and Campbell, 1998; Edwards, 1999a; Phinn et al., 2001b, 2002a,b; Dadouh-Guebas,
2002; Joyce et al., 2002; Malthus, 2003; Belfiore, 2003; Trinder, 2003;). These
applications were often in cooperation with field programs and provide a worthwhile
overview of the capabilities of currently available remote sensing technologies. In the
surveys of natural resource managers conducted by a number of these reviews,
consistent responses were:
• a need for closer integration between existing monitoring programs and
remotely sensed data.
• an onus on demonstrating the effectiveness, accuracy and cost efficiency of
remote sensing approaches.
2.2 THE THREE “Ms” FOR MANAGEMENT: MAPPING, MONITORING AND
MODELING
A central concept presented in this chapter is that environmental management in
coastal zones is part of a continuum of applications. The continuum represents a
progression of knowledge necessary for environmental management, and is termed the
“three-M” approach. It starts with baseline Mapping and inventory, then progresses to
Monitoring, and finally to Modeling a coastal environments’ processes and structures
(McCloy, 1994; Viles, 1995; Green et al., 1996; Smith, 2001; Phinn et al., 2003). The
continuum of spatial data collection as it relates to management of coastal aquatic
environments can be described as follows:
• Mapping – Baseline surveys or inventories are conducted to determine the
presence and location of features. This most basic application level provides
information, at one snapshot in time.
• Monitoring – A comparison of base-line maps of an environmental feature
(e.g. substrate type or water depth) is carried out over a series of different
points in time, enabling changes to be mapped and measured.
• Modeling – The highest level of spatial and non-spatial data integration is
based on understanding and then replicating how an environmental system, or
one of its components, operates. A model of a coastal environment (e.g. a
hydrodynamic circulation model) enables parameters to be modified to
determine how the system will change under certain environmental conditions.
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Phinn, Joyce, Scarth and Roelfsema
sensed data (Green et al., 1996; Edwards, 1999a; Dadouh-Guebas, 2002; Joyce et al.,
2002). Recent reviews outline the capabilities of remote sensing for environmental
monitoring in terms of the data sets and technical approaches applicable for change
analysis for terrestrial environments (Coppin, 2003; Treitz, 2003); water quality
parameters; and for mapping substrate types, such as coral, seagrass and algae (Green
et al., 1996, 2000; Edwards, 1999b; Dekker et al., 2001b). This chapter will place the
information contained in these reviews within a context of typical requirements for
managing coastal environments. With the notable exception of Edwards (1999a), and
Green et al. (1996, 2000), there is little guidance provided to coastal resource managers
as to how to practically integrate remotely sensed data within existing field programs
for use in monitoring and management activities.
A number of useful surveys covering practical applications or evaluations of
remotely sensed data have been published recently (Green et al., 1996, 2000; Wallace
and Campbell, 1998; Edwards, 1999a; Phinn et al., 2001b, 2002a,b; Dadouh-Guebas,
2002; Joyce et al., 2002; Malthus, 2003; Belfiore, 2003; Trinder, 2003;). These
applications were often in cooperation with field programs and provide a worthwhile
overview of the capabilities of currently available remote sensing technologies. In the
surveys of natural resource managers conducted by a number of these reviews,
consistent responses were:
• a need for closer integration between existing monitoring programs and
remotely sensed data.
• an onus on demonstrating the effectiveness, accuracy and cost efficiency of
remote sensing approaches.
2.2 THE THREE “Ms” FOR MANAGEMENT: MAPPING, MONITORING AND
MODELING
A central concept presented in this chapter is that environmental management in
coastal zones is part of a continuum of applications. The continuum represents a
progression of knowledge necessary for environmental management, and is termed the
“three-M” approach. It starts with baseline Mapping and inventory, then progresses to
Monitoring, and finally to Modeling a coastal environments’ processes and structures
(McCloy, 1994; Viles, 1995; Green et al., 1996; Smith, 2001; Phinn et al., 2003). The
continuum of spatial data collection as it relates to management of coastal aquatic
environments can be described as follows:
• Mapping – Baseline surveys or inventories are conducted to determine the
presence and location of features. This most basic application level provides
information, at one snapshot in time.
• Monitoring – A comparison of base-line maps of an environmental feature
(e.g. substrate type or water depth) is carried out over a series of different
points in time, enabling changes to be mapped and measured.
• Modeling – The highest level of spatial and non-spatial data integration is
based on understanding and then replicating how an environmental system, or
one of its components, operates. A model of a coastal environment (e.g. a
hydrodynamic circulation model) enables parameters to be modified to
determine how the system will change under certain environmental conditions.
218
Phinn, Joyce, Scarth and Roelfsema