[Geowanking] Monitoring Illegal Logging

[Catherine Burton]

Hi Abel,

 

In my experience it is very difficult to count individual trees on any kind
of large scale project.  There are two remotely sensed image processing
products which may be useful that I can think of off of the top of my head:
LiDAR and standard multi-spectral low-resolution imagery.  Allow me to offer
a highly simplified explanation (mostly because I would need to dust off the
details in my head): 

 

-          LiDAR is a data-cloud of points that can penetrate tree canopy.
LiDAR data allows an analyst identify individual trees; it is the only
remotely sensed data that can penetrate tree canopy.  It is very, very
expensive to collect large swaths of LiDAR data.  Some states and /or
municipalities collect it for various reasons and sometimes you can get your
hands on it if you are very nice. ;).  

-          Standard multi-spectral low-resolution imagery like LANDSAT can
be classified using remote sensing image processing techniques to show
forested versus non-forested or logged areas.  By doing a little ground
"truthing" and going out into a wooded area featured in a given LANDSAT
image, then counting how many trees are within a given area on the ground,
an analyst can extrapolate that data to his or her classification system.  A
little aggregating later and viola, you are able to estimate how many trees
went missing after a logging event takes place.  LANDSAT data is really
pretty good for picking up logged vs. non-logged areas and is free.  

 

In 2004 -2005, I worked on a project with NASA Ames DEVELOP Program to map
carbon sequestration after logging in a forest in Oregon.  I've posted our
poster up on slideshare and you can check it out if you like:

 

http://www.slideshare.net/CatherineHuybrechtsBurton/nasa-ames-develop-progra
m-usda-fremont-winema-forest-carbon-management-project-2005

 

These are only a couple image processing techniques for identifying logging
on a large scale.  I'm happy to point you in the direction of more
information on the subject if you are interested.

 

Thanks,

Catherine

 

_____________________________________________________________________

Catherine Huybrechts Burton

Owner / Member,  <http://www.endpointenvironmental.com/> Endpoint
Environmental LLC

Lead Organizer,  <http://www.meetup.com/webmapsocial> WebMapSocial Meetup
Group

Office: (415) 668-4222

Cell: (415) 902-0403



Endpoint Environmental LLC - Changing Imagery Into Information

 

 

 

 

From: geowanking-bounces at geowanking.org
[mailto:geowanking-bounces at geowanking.org] On Behalf Of Abel Ludba
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 2:02 PM
To: Geowanking at geowanking.org
Subject: [Geowanking] Monitoring Illegal Logging

 

Hi.
  

I am  trying to get an overview of existing tools/technics to map and/or
handle  Illegal Logging. We are trying to detect (if possible) every signle
logged tree

 

These could also include all kinds of:  Sensors, GPS, GIS, Remote Sensing,
etc. 

 

Any comment will be very welcomed.

 

Abel.



 

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