Photogrammetry as a tool to improve reef restoration

Coral reef restoration is emerging as a critical management tool in the Anthropocene. A prerequisite for successful reef restoration is determining meaningful and measurable goals. This requires tools to monitor success in a standardized way. Photogrammetry provides a potential tool to monitor a range of indicators of restoration success. Understanding whether restoration efforts have been 'successful' requires understanding of what natural recovery entails, as well as consideration of project-specific goals. Questions as part of this project will include: 1) How does natural recovery on a reef unfold following disturbance? 2) how does a restored reef compare to a natural reef? 3) how can photogrammetry improve restoration planning and goal setting? 4) how can we standardize indicators of restoration success using photogrammetry? and 5) can photogrammetry help in standardizing monitoring techniques for reef restoration?