Hyperspectral and Lidar: Complementary Tools to Identify Benthic Features and Assess the Ecological Status of Sabellaria alveolata Reefs

A novel combination of hyperspectral imagery and LiDAR data reveals the ecological status of Sabellaria alveolata reefs, with up to 93% accuracy in distinguishing prograding and retrograding phases. This breakthrough addresses a critical gap in monitoring biogenic reefs, which are vital yet threatened habitats in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. The study demonstrates that automatic processing of optical airborne data can map benthic features with high precision (88% overall accuracy), including reef types and associated substrates. By leveraging spectral indices to identify primary producers such as microphytobenthos, researchers provide a scalable tool for assessing reef health at spatial resolutions relevant to conservation management. This approach offers a promising path toward quantitative ecological status indices, potentially transforming how protected habitats are monitored globally.

Bajjouk, T., Jauzein, C., Drumetz, L., Dalla Mura, M., Duval, A., & Dubois, S. F. (2020). Hyperspectral and Lidar: Complementary Tools to Identify Benthic Features and Assess the Ecological Status of Sabellaria alveolata Reefs. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.575218