Using ALSM to Map Sinkholes in the Urbanized Covered Karst of Pinellas County, Florida 1, Methodological Considerations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-2008
Keywords
ALSM, Covered karst, Remote sensing, Sinkholes, Pinellas County
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0890-8
Abstract
Comparison of a database of interpreted sinkholes made using airborne laser swath mapping (ALSM) with databases of sinkholes made from interpretation of aerial photographs reveals substantial disagreement. The discrepancies involve the location, number, areas, and circularity of interpreted sinkholes. Methodological factors that contribute to the discrepancies include blockage of ALSM laser returns in thick vegetation, multi-path reflections, and misrepresentation of the true extent of sinkholes. Comparison of two ALSM-derived databases made (1) independently from versus (2) in combination with earlier air photo analysis in undeveloped regions had the following result: one-fourth of the sinkholes interpreted by using the composite method were missed by the independent analysis, and one-third of the sinkholes that were interpreted from the independent analysis were not interpreted as sinkholes using the composite method. Subjective interpretation leads to a high level of uncertainty such that the results of the remote sensing studies are suspect, if not invalid.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Environmental Geology, v. 54, issue 5, p. 995-1005
Scholar Commons Citation
Searle, Larry D.; Florea, Lee J.; Vacher, H. Len; and Brinkmann, Robert, "Using ALSM to Map Sinkholes in the Urbanized Covered Karst of Pinellas County, Florida 1, Methodological Considerations" (2008). Geology Faculty Publications. 24.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gly_facpub/24
Full Text URL
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0890-8
