Quantitative monitoring of environmental health and dynamics from the ADAR-1000 low-cost airborne digital multi-spectral camera

Over two years researchers from Northern Territory University and University of Queensland have collaborated to modify a Kodak digital camera into a low-cost, portable, easy to use and reliable multispectral imaging system. As part of the project, internal and external aircraft mounts along with a processing sequence for flight planning, image acquisition and image processing were developed. This paper describes the process undertaken and the resulting operational imaging system and georeferenced, radiometrically correct output images. The main goal of this was project was to provide a system capable of mapping and monitoring changes to wetland and submerged aquatic vegetation and coral reefs in tropical regions of Australia. Several limitations of the camera system were measured and the corrections developed to address these are presented along with results of mapping programs. The results substantiate previous findings on the potential for mapping biophysical properties from digital cameras.