Vegetation classification based on digital aerial imagery

GDF Hannover and its partner nature-consult offer experience in developing and implementing adapted methods in the field of thematic vegetation mapping. In this context remote sensing analysis plays an important role.  
 

Wadden Sea National Park of Schleswig-Holstein     Since autumn 2005 GDF Hannover processes a vegetation classification of the Wadden Sea National Park of Schleswig-Holstein (12500 ha) on the base of digital CIR imagery (UltraCamD).   By early interdisciplinary project management, implementing supervised classification of digital aerial images, using free GIS software for the remote sensing analysis and put into practice a cooperation between vegetation-, GIS- and remote sensing specialists a precise and efficient mapping can be established.

Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony     On behalf of the Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony (Nationalparkverwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer) in Germany a monitoring of the East Frisian islands (25500 ha) was established on the base of recent digital aerial imagery (HRSC-AX und DMC cameras).

Example procedure at Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony

• A priori differenziation of vegetation units: A priori differenziation of vegetation units into dunes, dune slacks, salt meadows, grassland and infrastructure areas.
• Image classification: Image classification of the HRSC-AX and DMC digital aerial imagery to support the mapping in the field.
• Digital post-processing: Post-processig of the classification and building field maps.
• Field survey/verification: Validation and adjusting of vegetation units in the field for the entire terrestrial areal of the waddensee national park (ca. 25.500 ha) at a map scale of 1:3.000.
• Map production: Necessary updates as found within the validation field survey into the final digital maps. Printing analogue maps.