Graduate student Sarika Sharma is using drones and artificial intelligence technologies to map the spread of invasive Phragmites. [Photo courtesy of Sarika Sharma]
By Sara Elliott
Mapping the spread of invasive Phragmites is key to battling the towering reed that is threatening biodiversity across Southwestern Ontario.
As quickly as it is cut back or burned, the fast-growing species – Phragmites australis subsp. australis – outcompetes native varieties rapidly with a detrimental effect on the surrounding area.
This is where Sarika Sharma’s (BSc ‘24) collaborative environmental science master’s project comes into play.
The graduate student at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) is using drones and artificial intelligence technologies to map the specific locations of the invasive plant.
“Drones allow you to monitor the environment by just flying over an area. There’s no trampling of natural habitats, so it's very non-destructive,” says Sharma.
“My research is another way to support ground efforts that are trying to conserve and protect the environment and hopefully make things better.”
The collaborative project integrates inputs from Essex Region Conservation Authority, Walpole Island Land Trust, Ontario Nature, and City of Windsor.
“It's directly responding to needs from different partners and perspectives,” she says.
“I may be doing my project locally, but it's setting the stage for broader scaled mapping. Just having a more efficient way of knowing where Phragmites are can assist with resource allocation, and validation of ground-based management efforts as the Phragmites distribution changes.”
Through multidisciplinary science, Sharma’s work – co-supervised by Catherine Febria and Karim Malik – leverages drone imaging, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) and remote sensing to support land managers in making cost-effective, scalable and impactful ecological decisions.
Sharma acquired a drone pilot licence for the collaborative mapping project. [Photo courtesy of Sarika Sharma]
Sharma acquired a drone pilot licence and is learning on the job.
She says drones are great because they can capture fine resolution imagery relatively inexpensively.
“I have a GIS and remote sensing background from my undergrad which lends itself nicely. My project aims to provide another “tool” for land practitioners in their efforts towards ecosystem mapping and monitoring. I’m exploring various combinations between drone imagery and machine learning algorithms to determine an optimal strategy that accurately detects Phragmites from above in both wetland and tallgrass prairie habitats,” she says.
The problems with the troublesome plant, says Sharma, are not just about how it takes over the native species habitat and reduces local biodiversity, the tall reed also provides habitat favourable to black-legged ticks, undermines flood mitigation, and impedes recreational activities.
“Sometimes, just visibly, people don't want to see a full wall of Phragmites blocking their view to the water, or let's say you're an avid kayaker or canoer - you're not able to get through the dense reeds easily,” she says.
“At different levels they're really relentless and hard to keep up with.” We also have much to learn about the plant itself, given its’ diverse uses in its’ native habitats in Eastern Europe.
Sharma has a lot of excitement for the project because of the possible impact it could have.
Sarika Sharma and her supervisors are mapping the spread of invasive Phragmites because it outcompetes native varieties rapidly with a detrimental effect on the surrounding area. [Photo courtesy of Sarika Sharma]
“I love that this research is rooted in place and was co-created with local conservation groups and communities” she says.
“Although I'm studying it from a more academic perspective, the work is, hopefully, not going to stay at that level and it really is going to be used and applied on the ground.”
As part of this work, Sharma will be co-creating and sharing protocols and knowledges with local practitioners so that ongoing monitoring and management plans can be supported with local science.