Submitting Campus

Prescott

Student Status

Undergraduate

Archival Class Information

Undergraduate Student Works

Advisor Name

Dr. Ronny Schroeder

Abstract/Description

This study expands upon prior research that utilized NDVI-based hotspot analysis from UAS and satellite imagery (Morales et al. 2026) to identify potential bald eagle nesting and foraging areas. While NDVI effectively captures vegetation density, it does not distinguish between vegetation types or landscape structural characteristics necessary for nesting. To address this limitation, this research integrates LiDAR-derived canopy height, terrain slope, and proximity to stream networks to develop a more refined habitat suitability model within the Del Rio Springs ecosystem.

Airborne LiDAR data were used to generate Digital Surface Models (DSM) and Digital Elevation Models (DEM), which were employed to estimate canopy height. Suitable nesting habitat was constrained to canopy heights between 15–30 meters, reflecting known bald eagle nesting preferences (Arizona Highways, 2026). Additional environmental variables, including slope and distance from higher-order streams, were derived and reclassified to represent favorable and unfavorable conditions. Lower-order streams (1st–4th) were excluded due to their intermittent and theoretical nature. A weighted overlay analysis was then applied to integrate all variables into a composite habitat suitability model.

Results indicate that suitable nesting areas are highly localized and strongly associated with clusters of tall canopy near reliable water sources and low-slope terrain. Compared to NDVI-only approaches, this method provides a more ecologically meaningful representation of habitat suitability by incorporating vegetation structure and landscape constraints. This study demonstrates the value of integrating LiDAR and spatial analysis techniques to improve the accuracy of wildlife habitat modeling and support targeted conservation efforts.

Document Type

Poster

Publication/Presentation Date

2026

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