Unravelling Mangrove Biophysical Feedback on Rapidly Prograding Delta by
Integration of UAV and Satellite Imagery
Abstract
It is still a challenge to understand the mangrove dynamics and their
response to the environmental forces. The assessment of the mangrove
dynamics can be obtained by observing the development of its biophysical
properties. This observation will provide insights into the processes at
the plot level and landscape level. In this research, the assessment has
been conducted by integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
photogrammetry with the Structure from Motion (SfM) method and multiple
satellite imagery sources. The objectives are to retrieve the mangrove
biophysical properties based on two periods of UAV observation (2019 and
2021) and estimate the extent and the age-height relationship of the
mangrove forests for twelve years. The analysis resulted in an accurate
individual tree structure and mangrove age distribution. We integrated
UAV-based very high-resolution 3D point clouds and the classified
mangrove extent based on the combinations of satellite imagery from four
satellites (Landsat 7-8 and Sentinel 1-2). The point clouds were
processed by noise removal, ground classification, height normalisation,
and generating the Canopy Height Model (CHM) to detect the individual
tree height and location. Google Earth Engine has been used to perform
the mangrove classification by way of four vegetation indices, i.e.,
Normalised Difference Index, Normalised Difference Moisture Index,
Enhanced Vegetation Index, and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index. The
off-the-shelve UAV-based surface model had a total error of 0.06m
compared to the ground control points, and the root mean square error of
the individual tree was 0.23m. GEE’s mangrove classification resulted in
the three-monthly mangrove extent map —an advantage over the commonly
annual mangrove extent map. The UAV-derived height information and
satellite-based mangrove age class were integrated to retrieve the
relationship of mangrove height dependent on the stand age. We observed
the seasonal pattern of mangrove expansion. The mangroves area receded
during the transition from dry to wet season and regrow during the wet
to dry season. The general trend is the expansion of the mangroves with
the high-low seasonal signal that is likely related to the mangrove’s
response to sediment deposition and freshwater.