Development and application of a new comprehensive image-based classification scheme for coastal and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf

The coastal (terrestrial) and benthic environments along the southeast Florida
continental shelf show a unique biophysical succession of marine features from a highly
urbanized, developed coastal region in the north (i.e. northern Miami-Dade County) to a
protective marine sanctuary in the southeast (i.e. Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary). However, the establishment of a standard bio-geomorphological
classification scheme for this area of coastal and benthic environments is lacking. The
purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis and answer the research question of
whether new parameters of integrating geomorphological components with dominant
biological covers could be developed and applied across multiple remote sensing
platforms for an innovative way to identify, interpret, and classify diverse coastal and
benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf. An ordered, manageable hierarchical classification scheme was developed to incorporate the categories of Physiographic Realm, Morphodynamic Zone, Geoform, Landform, Dominant Surface Sediment, and Dominant Biological Cover. Six different remote sensing platforms (i.e. five multi-spectral satellite image sensors and one high-resolution aerial orthoimagery) were acquired, delineated according to the new classification scheme, and compared to determine optimal formats for classifying the study area. Cognitive digital classification at a nominal scale of 1:6000 proved to be more accurate than autoclassification programs and therefore used to differentiate coastal marine environments based on spectral reflectance characteristics, such as color, tone, saturation, pattern, and texture of the seafloor topology. In addition, attribute tables were created in conjugation with interpretations to quantify and compare the spatial relationships between classificatory units. IKONOS-2 satellite imagery was determined to be the optimal platform for applying the hierarchical classification scheme. However, each remote sensing platform had beneficial properties depending on research goals, logistical restrictions, and financial support. This study concluded that a new hierarchical comprehensive classification scheme for identifying coastal marine environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf could be achieved by integrating geomorphological features with biological coverages. This newly developed scheme, which can be applied across multiple remote sensing platforms with GIS software, establishes an innovative classification protocol to be used in future research studies.