Habitat mapping is the classification of habitats at a site. The resulting maps show the spread of habitat types, such as saltmarsh, sand, mud and cobbles, as well as sub-types within these areas.
By determining the habitats present at the site, ecologists can identify what, if any, protected habitats and species might be supported there, and assess the need for any further, more targeted surveys.
We undertake habitat mapping surveys for numerous clients to support a wide variety of applications. Our experienced surveyors combine established operating procedures with innovative survey techniques, including the use of GPS equipment to map habitat boundaries along the intertidal shoreline, as well as UAVs (drones) to rapidly collect habitat imagery.
Our ecological surveyors routinely conduct intertidal habitat mapping, such as Phase I (walkover) surveys across a range of coastal environments, including:
- Estuarine complexes
- Honeycomb worm reefs
- Mudflats and sandflats
- Rocky shores
- Saltmarsh
- Intertidal seagrass beds
We also capture high-resolution underwater imagery for seabed visualisation and mapping of subtidal areas.