Remote sensing applications to support large-scale riverine and floodplain assessment and monitoring

Remote sensing and spatial analytics have substantial utility to support riverine and floodplain assessment and monitoring at extents not feasible with traditional field surveys.  This presentation will provide an overview of relevant technologies such as topobathymetric lidar, sonar, and multiple imagery types, as well as processes for integrating and analyzing these data.  Broad-scale, objective, and reproducible analytics allow for geographic and temporal comparison across entire river systems to aid in inundation modeling, restoration prioritization, efficacy monitoring, and more.  Quantification and mapping of geomorphic features, thermal refugia, floodplain connectivity, riparian vegetation, solar exposure, and water quality are some of the applications we will review.  While this presentation is focused mainly on river systems, many of the concepts and data products can be applied similarly to other benthic systems such as oceans or lakes.  The goal of this presentation is to provide managers and decision makers information on how to leverage the concept of digital twins in natural systems through remote sensing technologies, data fusion, and analytics.