The three-band multi-spectral aerial imaging system (developed by Dr Christopher Neale, USU) is a camera system that is flown over the site utilizing a sophisticated GPS system and cameras that capture information in 3 bands, NIR (Near Infra Red) Visible Red and Visible Green. This imaging system allows analysis of 3’x3’ square of ground from the air and tells essentially what plant species are on the ground and if they change (conversion from weeds to better suited native wetland plant species). The bands measure water content amongst, other things, of the plants which indicates health of the plant species. This technology is used in conjunction with Field Engineers ground truthing the site in
order to “truth” the certain colors that come out in the data and apply a “field truth” to the color which allows, in this case, the Sponsor to monitor the various plant communities that they are either trying to eradicate (Phragmite, weeds) or trying to enlarge (bulrush or other beneficial, native plant communities). The site is flown using the same parameters every year, same time exact time frame and an overlay occurs and the Sponsor can monitor the change that is occurring on the site. This is extremely accurate technology and is starting to be accepted and utilized extensively in sensitive ecosystems to monitor and analyze large tracks of land that would be really labor intensive otherwise.