Hyperspectral Analysis of Health
 Effects on Vegetation due to Mining of Gold and Sulfide Ores

Interpretations:

After acquiring our change detection maps, and comparing the red edge images it can be seen that abundance and quality of vegetation directly surrounding the mine has increased since 1997. However, vegetation seen further from the mine has faltered somewhat. A number of external factors could contribute to this decline in quality of this distanced vegetation. It could potentially be a particularly dry season attributing to this, or it could be effects from sustained acid rain in the general region caused by the excess heavy metals in the soil of the area. Because of these external factors, the vegetation (other than the vegetation that is right by the mine) is inconclusive in determining the changes of health from 1997 to 2016.   

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Further Research:

To come to a better conclusion, a better source of data and resources would be needed. More AVIRIS flight paths, in consistent time intervals, along with multiple mines to compare amongst would result in more conclusive results. Information about the area surrounding the mines, like concentration of elements such as Sulfur in the air and rivers could be used in interpretations.