Mapping groundwater dependent vegetation at landscape scale — from field constraints to individual trees
Mapping groundwater dependent vegetation at landscape scale — from field constraints to individual trees
Assessing groundwater dependent vegetation (GDV) across large, remote landscapes like the Pilbara is complex — especially where access is limited and vegetation occurs in highly variable mosaics.
Spectrum Ecology recently delivered a GDV assessment across ~230,000 ha, targeting key riparian and floodplain species including Melaleuca argentea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix.
By combining high-resolution aerial imagery, LiDAR surfaces and targeted field validation — analysed using Tyton Ecological Intelligence‘s TytonAI — we automatically detected and classified more than 86,000 individual groundwater-dependent trees.
Each tree was mapped as a discrete object and quantified for:
• Species attribution
• Canopy height, area, diameter and estimated volume
• Vegetation health and condition at the individual tree level
The result? A spatially explicit, defensible dataset supporting impact assessment, approvals, infrastructure planning and long-term monitoring — while streamlining targeted field surveys.
As regulatory expectations rise, integrating AI-driven detection with experienced ecological interpretation enables assessments at a scale, consistency and defensibility that field methods alone struggle to achieve.
Being able to track individual trees — their species and health over time — changes what’s possible in proactive environmental management.
If you’re managing GDV (or potential GDV) across large or remote sites, we’re always happy to discuss how integrated spatial approaches can strengthen outcomes.
Visit this link to learn more about Tyton AI: https://lnkd.in/gHxiBM4m
