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Underwater Photographic Reconnaissance and Habitat Data Collection in the Florida Keys—A Procedure for Ground Truthing Remotely Sensed Bathymetric Data

Open-File Report 2020-1118
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201118

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Abstract

Bathymetric geoprocessing analyses of the Florida Reef Tract have provided insights into trends of seafloor accretion and seafloor erosion over time and following major storm events. However, bathymetric surveys sometimes capture manmade structures and vegetation, which do not represent the desired bare-earth data. Therefore, ground truthing is essential to maintain the most accurate bathymetric data possible. Field procedures were developed in the Florida Reef Tract in order to quickly and accurately collect consistent imagery and habitat data across variable sites. Areas of significant elevation change were determined through elevation change analyses; these areas were targeted for ground truthing in order to check the reliability of the surveys. This report outlines the standard operating procedures for underwater photographic imagery and habitat data collection, as well as procedures for the storage of these photographs and associated metadata. These standard operating procedures ensure the reproducibility of photographic operations and habitat data collection in future field excursions, enable longitudinal visual comparisons alongside seafloor elevation change analyses, and also have the potential to be applied to similar studies in different coastal environments.

Suggested Citation

Fehr, Z.W., and Yates, K.K., 2020, Underwater photographic reconnaissance and habitat data collection in the Florida Keys—A procedure for ground truthing remotely sensed bathymetric data: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1118, 13 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201118.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Discussion
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Underwater photographic reconnaissance and habitat data collection in the Florida Keys—A procedure for ground truthing remotely sensed bathymetric data
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2020-1118
DOI 10.3133/ofr20201118
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description vii, 13 p.
Country United States
State Florida
Other Geospatial Florida Keys
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details