Maximum total word count = 400

You need to map environmental problems in the Cairns-Atherton area in northern Queensland. The area consists of remnant tropical rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and developed areas (residential and agricultural). On lower elevation coastal slopes the forest grades into coastal forest, mangroves and urban (residential, commercial and industrial) areas. The terrain is mountainous, ranging from coastal plains at sea level through a coastal mountain range and then onto the Atherton tablelands. One of the responsibilities of the management agencies is to map the extent of developments and their impact on the surrounding natural vegetation. To meet these requirements the agency needs a map showing the extent of “cleared” areas, including roads and power-line corridors, and any indications of changes in vegetation density adjacent to these sites. Your recommendations should be based on trying to complete task in an efficient and cost effective manner, but you may assume you are not subject to budget limitations.

Part 1 – Choose the ideal data set – do not include a specific sensor. Write the ideal option and briefly justify why (In bullet points –max 200 words altogether)

1.      Spatial (eg: The area is x km by x km, minimum mapping unit=? So what pixel size do I need?)

2.      Spectral (eg: I need to map suspended sediment, what spectral bands do I need?)

3.      Radiometric (eg: Do I need to see small scale changes in brightness levels? I need 1024 levels of greyscale levels etc.)

4.      Temporal (Eg: Do I need to see daily change?)

Part 2 – Select an available image data set according to your requirements in part 1 and justify why. (In bullet points stating main points– max 100 words)

It does not have to match all requirements, but try as match as many as possible with the ideal set in part 1.

Part 3 – Provide a brief outline of the image processing operations to use for producing the required spatial data (in bullet points stating main points, max 100 words)

For example