Mapping Honeysuckle Distribution in Large Forests through Use of High Resolution Satellite Images – Case Study at Great Parks of Hamilton County, Ohio, USA

Abstract

A non-native invasive shrub, named Amur honeysuckle, has caused various problems to the habitats of native plants and animals. Local governments, private landowners and non-profit groups spend numerous efforts on removing these species from forests. The first step to remove the species is to know their spatial distribution. The major objective of this study is to explore how to quickly map honeysuckle distribution by using high resolution satellite images. The case study is located in Great Parks of Hamilton County (GPHC), Ohio. A World-View2 satellite image acquired on Nov. 9th 2013 was classified into several land use types, including low density honeysuckle area, medium/high density honeysuckle area, grass/crop, bare soil/construction, and water/wet land. Half of the field data that we collected in Nov. 2013 and some high resolution aerial photos (with 4 inch spatial resolution) were used to validate the classification result. The study result demonstrates that the World-View2 image delineates honeysuckle distribution fairly well, in particular, for medium/high density honeysuckle areas. As a pilot program utilizing advanced geospatial analysis, this project will provide important information for understanding the status of wildlife habitats and for implementing site-specific management in parks and nature preserves.