Characterizing the evolution of a restoring salt marsh landscape with low altitude aerial imagery and photogrammetric techniques

Abstract

In Nova Scotia, Canada, managed realignment, a form of nature-based adaptation to the effects of climate change, is being used to restore natural salt marsh systems which provide many benefits including coastal erosion protection and vital habitat. This study utilized remotely piloted aircraft systems equipped with real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning corrections to monitor and measure morphodynamic changes at a managed realignment site in the Bay of Fundy with resolutions and accuracies not achievable with traditional methods. Sedimentation patterns and channel network evolution were analyzed using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Results show strong seasonal signals in the morphological evolution of the site, and variations in sedimentation patterns and channel characteristics between areas with and without relic agricultural features. RTK positioning functionality improved achievable product accuracies and increased the magnitude of measurable change in sedimentation analyses, and hyperspatial resolutions allowed for the mapping of embryonic channel features.