Texas Benthic Mapping

Under contract to the NOAA’s Coastal Services Center, Fugro EarthData is using existing color and color-infrared imagery and object-oriented feature extraction software to map benthic habitats in Texas. The two-phase project involves identification of seagrasses, algae, oysters, and sediments. Phase-I was completed in July 2007 and comprised a 1,406 sq mi area along the Southern Gulf Coast. Phase-II is now underway and involves two areas adjacent to the phase-I region. Once final data is delivered, the benthic habitat map for the entire Texas Coastal Bend region will be complete. The data will be used by the state-sponsored Texas Seagrass Monitoring Program to protect and conserve seagrasses within the bay and Laguna waters.