Airborne Sensor Potential for Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP).

Abstract : Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) models of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) are reviewed with the objective of determining the necessary modifications to model requirements (if any) if data for the models are to be obtained from aerial photographic sensors. The white-tailed deer model was chosen for the conversion exercise because of its interest to human activities that can readily be translated to economic and recreational values. Steps that must be included in an optimum remote sensing effort are outlined, with the relevance of each step to the HEP being illustrated where possible. Forty-one HSI models that are species specific are reviewed to show the feasibility of gathering necessary input data by remote sensing. The guilds formed by grouping species of similar requirements are discussed.