Project-SJRWMD

Remote Sensing and Mapping of Plant Communities for the Preservation of Natural Systems (2020-2026)

Project Background | Project Deliverables | Field Samples | Map Products | Project Reports | Acknowledgement

Project Background

Funded by St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) (2020-2026), we developed an object-based machine learning ensemble approach to map wetland communities in central Florida using 0.5-m WorldView-2/3 satellite imagery. We collected thousands of field photos, points, and drone data to generate reference samples to train the machine learning models.

Project Deliverables

• Map products
• Collected field points, photos with notes, drone orthophotos
• Detailed tutorial of the workflow
• QA//QC accuracy assessment
• Quarterly reports

  Field Samples

Mixed Herbaceous marsh with Shrub Swamp

Grass Sedge Marsh invaded by Willow Swamp

Shrub Swamp, Water, Free Floating plants, and Cattail, Willow Swamp

Hydric Hammock and Water

Pasture with Upland Hardwood mixed with Cabbage Palm Hammock

Map Products

Map of wetland communities in 2022 with a coverage of 81,895 acres.

[Data link] (https://data-floridaswater.opendata.arcgis.com/maps/17cdc7b7ac184725b0d9fd6682df8d6d)

Map of wetland communities in 2023 with a coverage of 88,016 acres.

[Data link] (https://data-floridaswater.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/ff6bfb8c8aaf49e18721a8f47a9b050e_27/about)

Map of wetland communities in 2024 with a coverage of 130,966 acres.

Project Reports

• Q1_2021_Report
• Q2_2021_Report
• Q3_2021_Report
• Q1_2022_Report
• Q2_2022_Report
• Q3_2022_Report
• Q4_2022_Report
• Year_2023_Report
• Year_2024_Report
• Year_2025_Report

Acknowledgement

We are grateful that the District has provided this project as an opportunity for FAU’s graduate students: David Brodylo (PhD, graduated Summer 2023), Mizanur Rahman (PhD, graduated Summer 2025), Rabindra Parajuli (PhD, graduated Summer 2024), David Ramirez (MS, graduated Spring 2024), Madan Thapa Chhetri (MS, graduated Summer 2024), Abdullah Ai-Fazari (PhD, graduated Spring 2026), Sandip Rijal (PhD, ongoing), and Fiona Benzi (PhD, ongoing) to put their classroom learning into a real field project, allowing for the application of geospatial techniques, and generating industry level map products. Some students (Mizanur Rahman and Fiona Benzi) have been working on their thesis/dissertation based upon this project. We also would like to extend our gratitude to the District’s Project Manager, Dr. Dianne Hall, for her rich knowledge over the project area, patience to teach the students and PI to identify each community and understand their ecological significance, for providing detailed considerations and logistics for the field visit and improving the final map products and project report. District personnel Christy Akers, Kimberly Ponzio, Jodi Slater, Jonny Baker, Doug Voltolina, Graham Williams, and Chris O’Hara, and retired District employee Ken Snyder made the field survey a great success.