Automated Classification of an Environmental Sensitivity Index

Abstract

Environmental Sensitivity Indices (ESI) composed of many field-data,are essential for monitoring and control systems. An ESI of the German Wadden Sea was determined for use by authorities in the beginning of the last decade. It,was derived in a still common way by experts semi-manually analyzing an extensive field-data-set.,An algorithm is presented here which emulates the expert-decisions on the sensitivity classes. This allows in future the necessary regular updates of ESI-determinations by new field data via automated classifications. After tuning of the parameters,of the algorithm it generates identical decisions in about 97% of all locations. In addition the presented algorithm finds as a by-product erroneous or extremely,seldom field data.