Detecting and Tracking the Positions of Wild Ungulates Using Sound Recordings.

Monitoring wild ungulates such as deer is a highly challenging issue faced by wildlife managers. Wild ungulates are increasing in number worldwide, causing damage to ecosystems. For effective management, the precise estimation of their population size and habitat is essential.

Assessment of Chlorophyll-a Algorithms Considering Different Trophic Statuses and Optimal Bands.

Numerous algorithms have been proposed to retrieve chlorophyll- concentrations in Case 2 waters; however, the retrieval accuracy is far from satisfactory. In this research, seven algorithms are assessed with different band combinations of multispectral and hyperspectral bands using linear (LN), quadratic polynomial (QP) and power (PW) regression approaches, resulting in altogether 43 algorithmic combinations. These algorithms are evaluated by using simulated and measured datasets to understand the strengths and limitations of these algorithms.

Using remotely sensed imagery to estimate potential annual pollutant loads in river basins.

Land cover changes around river basins have caused serious environmental degradation in global surface water areas, in which the direct monitoring and numerical modeling is inherently difficult. Prediction of pollutant loads is therefore crucial to river environmental management under the impact of climate change and intensified human activities. This research analyzed the relationship between land cover types estimated from NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) imagery and the potential annual pollutant loads of river basins in Japan.

Spatial assessment of the alder tree in Kushiro Mire, Japan using remotely sensed imagery--effects of the surrounding land use on Kushiro Mire.

The relationship between alder (Alnus japonica) distribution and surrounding land use in Kushiro Mire was spatially assessed using remotely sensed imagery. From the result, it was found out that the expanding area of alder trees in Kushiro Mire was affected by the agricultural land area in the upper course of the river basin and flooding in the lower course of the river. The soil sediments flowing into the Kushiro Mire from the agricultural land resulted in heavy sedimentation that favors the growth of alder trees.

Estimation of chlorophyll concentration in lakes and inland seas with a field spectroradiometer above the water surface.

The estimation of chlorophyll concentration in the water by use of a field spectroradiometer above the water surface is necessary for the removal of the effect of specular reflection at the water surface. The amount of specular reflection from the water surface was assessed on the basis of the spectral signature data that was measured above and below the water surface. Furthermore, a method to remove the effect of specular reflection from spectral signature data that was measured above water surface was proposed.