Research Activities At The Image Analysis Lab
The Maine Image Analysis Laboratory (MIAL) and New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) has developed a multi-scale monitoring approach for the Pingree Conservation Easement, the largest conservation easement in the U.S. at over 750,000 acres. Through a series of meetings on developing a monitoring approach for the easement, a hierarchical system of monitoring using remote sensing and ground visits emerged as the most cost-effective system. Three levels of monitoring are used: 1)medium spatial resolution satellite (e.g. Landsat) change detection, 2)high resolution satellite or aerial photography sampling, and 3) field visits or ground measurements for highest priority monitoring sites. For further details on the Pingree monitoring effort, see an article written by Jim Levittm, Director of The Program on Conservation Innovation at the Harvard Forest:
Conservation via Satellite: Leveraging Remote Sensing to Monitor
the Pingree Easement
NASA and the Central America Commision on Environment and Development (CCAD) recently teamed up to cooperate in the development of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC). Home to rare and endangered species as well as human inhabitants, the goal of the MBC is to integrate conservation, protections, and ecological balance within the freamework of the sustainable economic development. Unver the direction of Dr. Steven A. Sader (Project Principal Investigator), the Maine Image Analysis Laboratory of the University of Maine will play a leading role in image processing and date development, scientific research, and technology transfer and training. A three-year project is underway to conduct cooperative scientific research, data exchange, and training between NASA and Central America. To accomplic this goal the project is divided into two parts: Land cover/Land use mapping and development of a Central American data and information system.
MAPPING THE MESOAMERICAN BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR
