Mapping Irish Water Bodies: Comparison of Platforms, Indices and Water Body Type

Accurate monitoring of water bodies is essential for the management and regulation resources. Traditional methods measuring quality are always time-consuming expensive; furthermore, it can be very difficult capture full spatiotemporal variations across regions. Many studies have shown possibility remote-sensing-based work in many areas, especially monitoring. However, use optical remotely sensed imagery depends on several factors, including weather, images size bodies. Hence, this study, feasibility remote sensing Republic Ireland was investigated. To assess value monitoring, critical to know how well existing situ stations mapped. In two satellite platforms (Sentinel-2 MSI Landsat-8 OLI) four indices separating land pixel (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index—NDVI; Normalized Water Index—NDWI; Modified Index—MNDWI; Automated Extraction Index—AWEI) been used create masks scenarios. first scenario (Scenario 1), we included all pixels classified as water, while second 2) accounts potential contamination only that were completed surround by other pixels. The different scenarios combinations then compared with station shapefile river network, lakes coastal transitional We found both had Ireland, Sentinel-2 outperforming Landsat due its finer spatial resolution. Overall, able map ~25% station, could ~21%. These percentages heavily impacted large number either their location smaller rivers. Our results showed importance testing indices. No index performed best platforms. AWEInsh (Automated Index—no shadow) outperformed over 80% area non-river Ireland. While MNDWI Landsat-8, worst performer Sentinel-2. This study has larger rivers,