Early detection and mapping of the emerald ash borer
PARTNERS: USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Northern Research Station, and Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; University of Vermont; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
SUMMARY: Researchers have used hyperspectral remote sensing to effectively assess ash decline symptoms associated with emerald ash borer (EAB) colonization. However, these techniques have yet to be operationally integrated with current Forest Service Forest Health Protection landscape-scale risk mapping and detection techniques. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's recent development of Goddard's LiDAR, Hyperspectral, and Thermal (G-LiHT) imaging system provides a data fusion opportunity to increase accuracy and early detection of incipient EAB infestations. The goal of this project is to develop a multi-tiered approach to forest pest detection and management using a combination of remote sensing techniques, trap data, risk models, and host and other available spatial data. The G-LiHT airborne imaging system will concurrently collect three sets of imagery (LiDAR, hyperspectral, thermal) to target EAB infestations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in an effort to refine current early detection techniques.
EFETAC'S ROLE: This project is supported by Eastern Threat Center funding.
STATUS: Completed
PROGRESS: Researchers are currently developing a product to show ash conditions based on data from Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well as data from the Catskill Mountains (New York). Researchers re-prioritized target areas based on new EAB discoveries and successfully collected imagery from 14 areas of interest. Preliminary ground validations have already resulted in new detections. Researchers will continue to process the data and generate final spatial products (right--click to enlarge image). Products and results have been presented at the 2014 Entomological Society of America meeting in Portland, OR, and the 2016 North American Forest Insect Work Conference in Washington, DC. A manuscript has been submitted to Remote Sensing of Environment.
LINKS:
CONTACT: Ryan P. Hanavan, USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, rhanavan02@fs.fed.us or (603) 868-1066
Updated May 2016
