CONCEPT
The proposed system consists of the separate elements that full feel the user requirements and obligations towards the non-state forest management:
- Remote sensed data component – data storage, analysis and production of the products that meet the user requirements
- Ancillary data storage component – data storage and management
- Data processing
- Map server component and Earth Observation viewing component – service products provision to the users (WMS, visualization, analysis) and tool that allows visualization of the satellite images.
Overall architecture of the SAT4EST system
SERVICE
Example of the EO visualization tool:
Display and visual comparison of images from different dates using a vertical slider;
right image is presented in natural colour composite and left in NIR composite.
Display and visual comparison of EO products and images.
The service enables the analysis and comparison of satellite products with Forest Manadgment Plans vector data.
EO PRODUCTS
SAT4EST offers large spectrum of EO based products that are derived predominantly based on the data acquired by the European Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite missions. We offer the following products:
Forest extent map
The map of forest extent is an essential and relevant product. The three groups of the end users indicated the importance of the availability of the forest map – giving the highest priority to it. The forest extent map, refers to the national definition of forest (Dz. U. 1991). Forest by national definition is a homogeneous wooded area of minimum 0.1 hectares.
Map of woodlands including linear elements
Woodland areas including tree linear elements are defined as features, which do not meet the criteria of the national forest definition. In other words, woody patched smaller than 0.1 hectares and with minimum width greater than 10 m are classified as woodlands. The forest extent and woodland map is derived by automatic classification based on Sentinel-2 data. The overall accuracy of the tree cover product reached above 95% in the three pilot districts.
Example of the tree cover map that contains forest and woodlands overlied on Sentinel-2 image
Forest change maps
According to the user requirement document the forest change map is ranked as the second most wanted products. The forest change mapping is performed using change detection methods applied to the pair of Sentinel-2 images. The minimum mapping unit is 10 by 10 m. The forest changes are provided to the users in the vector format.
Example of the forest change product.
Forest type
Example of the forest type product.
Map of forest condition
Example of the forest condition map.
The project team developed methods for production of the following products:
Map of canopy closer
Map of forest biomass
Forest degradation (due to windstorm, fires, insect outbreaks)
Insect outbreaks in Tatra National Park
Windstorm; August 2017