The Challenge of Multispectral Remote Sensing for Mapping Kentucky Wetlands

Abstract Accurate and up-to-date data on the location and characterization of Kentucky's wetlands are lacking. The goal of this research was to assess the potential of low-cost, multispectral imagery for the delineation and classification of wetlands in three focal river basins: the Kentucky River Basin, Licking River Basin, and the Salt River Basin. Methods included the classification of mid-resolution multispectral Landsat 8 and ASTER remotely sensed imagery. These data were evaluated in conjunction with ancillary watershed, soil, and hydrologic data layers in a GIS. The field-verified results demonstrate the challenges of classifying Kentucky's wetlands using mid-resolution multispectral imagery due to the spectral similarity of wetlands and other land cover classes. The majority of commission errors occurred in inundated or partially inundated areas with abundant vegetation, notably agricultural fields and forests. Future research may improve classification by incorporating LiDAR slope and elevation data.