Assessing RADARSAT-2 for Mapping Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) Classes in the Canadian Arctic

Continued development of natural resources and a greater human presence in the Arctic places biologically and culturally sensitive shorelines at greater risk of environmental emergencies. Maps of vegetation, substrate, and water classes are needed in order to develop emergency response contingency plans. This study was completed as part of Environment Canada's Emergency Spatial Pre-SCAT for Arctic Coastal Ecosystems (e-SPACE) project, and focused on assessing the potential for improved mapping efficiency through semiautomated classification of the thematic classes defined for these purposes by Environment Canada–Environmental Emergencies Branch, using RADARSAT-2 and SPOT-4 alone and in combination. Repeatability and optimal RADARSAT-2 acquisition parameters were evaluated through comparison of multiple incidence angle images acquired over Tuktoyaktuk Harbour and West Point on Richards Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Shallow incidence angles (45.3°–49.5°) were preferred over medium (39.3°–41.6°) and steep incidence angles (20.9°–24.2°), and when used alone as inputs, a number of land cover types could be discriminated, including sand, mixed sediment, herbs, shrubs, and wetlands. When used in combination with SPOT-4 data, an overall accuracy of 86.1% and 76.2% was achieved for Tuktoyaktuk Harbour and West Point, respectively, on Richards Island.