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

Forest type map presents the deliniation of the coniferous and broadleaf forest at the 10 by 10 meter spatial resolution. The forest type is derived based on the automatic classification of a time series of Sentinel-2 images.

Example of the forest type product.

 

Map of forest condition

The map of forest condition is based on the indicators taking into account the content of pigments and water in the leaves. The indicators are calculated based on spectral bands from Sentinel-2.

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