Mapping Benthic Substrate Type in a Shallow Coastal Area Using Airborne Hyperspectral Images

Mapping bottom substrate types in the coastal area plays an important role in understanding benthic ecosystem. Particularly, the expansion of the whitening in coastal areas is becoming serious ecological issue in Korea. This study tested a remote benthic identification process that involves a use of hyperspectral images onboard aircraft. The experiment performed on Jukbyun coast showed that promising benthic identification results are obtainable through the inversion of a bio-optical model. The results indicate the near-shore area is dominated by sandy substrates indicating the absence of sea grass species, which is consistent with the divers' identification of whitening in the region.