top of page

Aerial Videography

   Strengths of Aerial Videography:

  • Covers large areas relatively quickly

  • Helps measure large water bodies, especially lakes

  • Informs management actions of community organizations or regional planning initiatives

To see photo examples of each of the health categories, click here:

Aerial Videog Example 1.jpg

AERIAL VIDEOGRAPHY

Aerial videography measures the health of riparian areas using video footage from low-level flights or drones that are flown along lake and wetland shorelines and river or stream banks.* This method was most commonly used between 2005-2015.

​

Riparian areas are scored and rated in one of 3 categories:

  • Good/Healthy

  • Fair/Moderately Impaired

  • Poor/Impaired

​​

Like the Field-based Method**, the area is scored according to the amount of:

  • Area covered by any plant species, cattails and bulrushes, and woody plants (and signs of new growth)

  • Human alteration via bare ground, plant community alterations, or changes to the physical site (including banks

  • Human alteration via bare ground or changes to the physical site (including banks)

  • Shoreline or bank stability

​

*Note that there may be limitations or restrictions in the use of drones in certain areas. Ensure that you follow all applicable regulations.

​

** The similarity of the Aerial Method to the Field-Based Method is because this method was based on Cows and Fish's Field-based Riparian Health Assessment methods.

​

bottom of page