High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Monitoring of Artificial Wetlands: A Case Study of the Yuqiao Reservoir Estuary Wetland

Compared with common natural wetlands, artificial wetlands change more rapidly in the early stages of construction, and even significant or destructive changes may occur due to hydrological regulation, climate change, and pests and diseases during long-term operation. Monitoring the spatial distribution of artificial wetland plants, is crucial for understanding the current changes in wetland plants and predicting future development, with the aim of controlling the ecosystem and maximizing the ecological benefits of artificial wetlands. Nevertheless, the task of remotely monitoring plant distribution in artificial wetlands on the scale of plant communities encounters substantial obstacles due to the intricate spectra exhibited by plants and the water background. These complexities arise from significant variations in flow velocity, water quality, and sediment content. To address these challenges, we have chosen the Yuqiao Reservoir estuary wetland, being the largest artificial wetland in China, as a case study to delve into its spatial distribution patterns. In this study, a satellite with high spatial resolution of 0.8-3.2m, GaoFen-2 was used. The results show that, the Gaofen-2 satellite can be used for high-resolution monitoring of plant communities in artificial wetlands with complex ecosystem structures. Moreover, the total area, spatial distribution, as well as the proportion of plants in small pools can be clearly revealed. For example, reeds and cattail dominate the wetland, with an area of 13.34km
²
, accounting for 40.83%. They distribute linearly along the edges of deep-water pools throughout the wetland, as well as continuously and massively in shallow water pools in the southeast, southwest, and northeast of wetland. Therefore, high spatial resolution remote sensing monitoring of artificial wetlands is expected to help control ecosystems and maximize the ecological benefits of artificial wetlands.