Object-based image analysis technique for gully mapping using topographic data at very high resolution (VHR)

An accurate mapping of gullies is important since they are still major contributors of sediment to streams. Mapping gullies can be difficult because of the presence of dense canopy, which precludes the identification through aerial photogrammetry and other traditional remote sensing methods. Moreover, the wide spatial extent of some gullies makes their identification and characterization through field surveys a very large and expensive proposition. One cheaper and more expeditious way to detect gullies can be achieved in terms of morphological characteristics by the Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). The recent widespread availability of very high resolution (VHR) imagery, such as LIDAR data,…