Transcript Slide 1

Characterizing Soil Erosion in
Albania using Remote
Sensing
Ryan L. Perroy
Geography Department
University of California, Santa Barbara
Introduction
• Research Questions
• Importance
• Benefits and drawbacks
• Study Area
• Methodology
• Expected Results
• Conclusion
Research Questions
• What does soil erosion look like on
the ground?
• Can we see it from space?
• How can we map and quantify soil
erosion from space?
Importance
• Threat to food security
• General lack of data
• Traditional methods too costly
Benefits and Drawbacks
• Spatial and temporal coverage
• Cost-effectiveness
• Relatively minor field-work
• Resolution (spectral and spatial)
• Mountainous terrain
• Unproven
Study Area
Albania
Shkumbini
Watershed
Vjosa
Watershed
Methodology
• Field measurements
• Acquire imagery: (ASTER,MODIS,
Landsat 7, Hyperion)
• Laboratory spectral measurements
• Process imagery
• Analyze results
Sample Image
60 km X 60 km ASTER
(partial coverage of Vjosa watershed)
Expected Results
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Positive identification of eroded areas
ASTER-derived DEM of study areas
Greatest success with Hyperion
Established methodology for erosion
assessment
Conclusion
• Erosion is a serious problem
• Traditional assessment methods are not
viable
• Remote sensing techniques have
significant potential
• Data exists
• Albania is a worthy and valid test case