Change Detection Observation from Derecho Damage Extent Using Satellite Imagery

Keywords: Remote Sensing, Climatology,
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 40

Abstract

Derechos are a common occurrence throughout much of the United States, but the vast majority of the population do not know of them or the damage that can occur. In August 2020, a progressive derecho swept across Iowa and Illinois causing extensive physical and economic damage. The purpose of this research is to utilize satellite imagery to create an overall change detection of vegetation with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Water Index, and chlorophyl index for Iowa. The research is specified within Iowa only since that was where the wind speeds were the highest and caused the most damage. The goal with this case study is to bring more attention to derechos as well as analyze them for future work that could be done to create automated machine learning algorithms. Results are still being conducted as this is a multi-method approach and there are many avenues in which the research can be proposed. Further work will be done before the session but the expected outcome includes a temporal sequence of vegetation health including corn, soybeans, forests, and grass. LIDAR data will also be incorporated in the analysis to see if elevation changes impacted the outcome of said crops. Since this is a case study, there are many avenues for future work regarding derechos and change detection. This study aims to bring derechos to light and update past studies regarding this topic.