Project Number: 5409-22610-001-06
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Sep 09, 2005
End Date: Sep 08, 2010

Objective:
We propose to test plant cover and bare ground measured from very large scale aerial (VLSA) photography as a potential standard for obtaining statistically representative data about soil stability and watershed function.

Approach:
Field location will be public land in WY. The procedure will be systematic aerial sampling using digital color photography. A laser altimeter will measure the height of the camera lens above the ground and GPS will reference positional coordinates of each photograph. Computer-aided image analysis and correlation of geocoded data with abiotic parameters will be used to test for significant ecological differences due to land management.