Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Improving Prairie Pond Counts with Aerial Video
and Global Positioning Systems
Laurence L. Strong and Lewis M. Cowardin
National Biological Service
Northern Prairie Science Center
Jamestown, ND 58401-7317
Abstract
Technological advances in tools available for habitat surveys have occurred
since the inception of the Aerial Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population and Habitat
Surveys in North America (BGS). We developed a method using aerial video, a
global positioning system (GPS), and an optical disk recorder to assess pond
numbers in the Prairie Pothole Region. We analyzed low altitude near infrared
video for 12 air-ground segments and 30 29-km transect segments that are part
of the annual BGS in southern Saskatchewan. Video interpretation was done with
a combination of manual and automated procedures. Average omission and commission
error for the 12 air-ground segments were 0.21 and 0.22, respectively. Estimating
omission and commission errors was confounded by changes in the presence and
level of water between dates of video and ground BGS. Use of GPS automated the
organization of the video by transect segment on the optical disk recorder,
thus reducing labor required to process video images. The time required to interpret
the number of ponds for a 0.2- x 29-km transect segment ranged from 9 to 59
minutes and varied with pond abundance, size, and contrast with background.
The system enabled a rapid and accurate assessment of the average number of
ponds. Video imagery can be used to estimate other habitat attributes (e.g.,
pond area) and is a valuable source of data for analysis of habitat trends.
Key Words: aerial video, global positioning system, ponds, Prairie
Pothole Region, remote sensing, Saskatchewan, waterfowl, wetlands
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
0945):
Strong, Laurence L. and Lewis M. Cowardin. 1995. Improving prairie pond
counts with aerial video and global positioning systems. J. Wildl.
Manage. 59(4):708-719.
This resource should be cited as:
Strong, Laurence L. and Lewis M. Cowardin. 1995. Improving prairie pond
counts with aerial video and global positioning systems. J. Wildl.
Manage. 59(4):708-719. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/methods/pndcount/index.htm
(Version 16JUL97).
Contents
Figures
- Figure 1: Relationship of Air-Ground Segments
to Transect Segments
- Figure 2: Percentage of Ponds by Wetland
Type and Water Level from Ground Aerial Waterfowl Breeding Ground Population
and Habitat Surveys in North America
- Figure 3a: Relationship of Pond Counts from
Video and Ground BGS
- Figure 3b: Relationship of Pond Counts from
Aerial BGS and Ground BGS
- Figure 3c: Relationship of Pond Counts from
Aerial BGS and Video
- Figure 4: Pond Counts from Aerial BGS Regressed
on Pond Counts from Video
Tables
- Table 1: Dates of Surveys Conducted in
12 Air-Ground Segments
- Table 2: Percentage of Ponds by Wetland
Type and Water Level from BGS and Video
- Table 3:Omission and Commission Error of
Video Interpretation
- Table 4:Frequency of Omission Errors of
Video by Wetland Type and Water Level
Downloading Instructions -- Instructions
on downloading and extracting files from this site.
pndcount.zip
( 84K) -- Improving Prairie Pond Counts with Aerial Video and Global
Positioning Systems
Installation: Extract all files and open index.htm in a web browser.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey