FOREST MAPPING

The Forest Mapping project developed an operational software tool for mapping of forests and forest damage using SAR data as the primary input.

The modular SAR processing chain used was embedded in the ArcView ® GIS environment. In this way, SAR data can be merged within the processing chain with other remote sensing and/or auxiliary data, in vector or raster format (e.g. ATSR hot spot products for fire detection).
Such modularity allows the system to be used in a very flexible way and the processing flow can be decided by the user in order to combine various data products for extracting different information.

Maps are generated in formats which are compatible with the most popular Geographic Information System (GIS) and image processing packages. Products can be tailored to individual clients or project requirements. These maps enable one to:

• Calculate forest areas
• Monitor deforestation/afforestation phenomena
• Calculate forest burned areas
• Monitor storm damages

The system was used to analyse ERS SAR images for burnt area mapping in a site in Alberta Canada. The results were very positive, with excellent agreement between the SAR
determined burned areas and the polygons distributed by the Alberta Forest
Service.  The capability of SAR images for illicit crop monitoring in Colombian forest was also investigated. A time series of ERS and RADARSAT SAR images were analysed and the results compared against SPOT interpreted data and an IKONOS image. Coca plantations could not be directly mapped in the SAR images, however, there was excellent discrimination between forest and non-forest areas, demonstrating that both ERS and RADARSAT imagery can be used for determining clearcut areas in tropical forest, and can hence act as indicators for likely regions for illicit crops.