The application of the getis statistic to high resolution imagery to detect change in the spatial structure of submerged tropical corals between image dates

We have been involved in an International Collaboration sponsored by the World Bank to analyze the capabilities of current and projected remote sensing systems for providing credible information on submerged tropical coral reefs that can be of value to the coastal management community. A major issue is the identification of change that may be attributed to natural or anthropogenic stress. In this study we report on an experiment to determine whether high spatial resolution imagery may provide the level of detail that may be relevant to this study. We approach the problem by identifying that change has occurred between sequential images using a spatial operator that does not require in situ measurement of water column attenuation or bathymetry.