In: Wagner W„ Székely, B. (eds.): ISPRS TC VII Symposium - 100 Years ISPRS, Vienna, Austria, July 5-7, 2010, IAPRS, Vol. XXXVIII, Part 7B 
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2. METHODS 
2.1 Study site 
Past land use was monitored on parcels belonging to the 
Zabcice UAE at Prisnotice, 90 km from Vienna. (Figure 2.) The 
project took place in the same location as that used for a 
precision agriculture project. The project was solved on the land 
of University agriculture enterprise (Mendel University in Brno), 
placed in Zabcice, which is working mainly in the maize area. 
Field production is focused on the production of cereals and 
fodder crops and livestock production is focused on beef and 
pig-rising. Additional activities are focused first of all on the 
practical aspects of the student education. SZP Zabcice controls 
1602 ha of the farmland (1353 ha of arable land). The chosen 
locality has an area of 61 ha (Czech Republic, 48°59'11" N 
16°37'40" E, 175 m above sea-level). 
Figure 2. Study site 
2.2 Digital aerial imagery 
The first step was aerial photo. Based on our experience, and for 
the reason of data comparison with other research studies in the 
area, the monitoring was done in two spectral bands (RED, 630- 
690 nm and NIR, 750-900 nm). Aerial images was done by 
GEODIS BRNO Ltd. using Z-37A Cmelak airplane equipped 
with digital medium-format camera Hasselblad HI with lens of 
50.4 mm focal length and Phaseone P25 digital back. Hasselblad 
HI is a medium format SLR camera with a number of unique 
features that support digital backs and provides a similar 
handling and functionality as an integrated digital camera. The 
image format is 6 x 4,5 cm (actual size 56 x 41.5 mm). A 
Phaseone P25 digital back incorporates a 22 megapixel CCD 
chip with a size of 48.9 x 36.7 mm, 9x9 pm pixel pitch, ratio 
4:3 ratio and 16 bits per pixel ADC. The images were sensed 
using custom-made optical filters to obtain two bands (RED and 
NIR) with spectral properties similar to Landsat TM bands. 
Each single exposition was directed using GPS according to in 
advance planed snapshot program using the pin-point method 
(according to pre-determined centers of projection). For the 
precise determination of the corrected center of projection and 
of tilt-angle against normal line to index display plane, the 
camera was connected with Aparature POS AV 310 (GPS/INS) 
from Applanix Ltd. The resulting orthophotomaps of the 
corresponding spectral bands are prepared by orthogonalization 
of the aerial digital images to the pre-prepared digital model of 
the corresponding landscape. The interpretation bases are then 
obtained by the correct synthesis of the resulting 
orthophotomaps. The accuracy of position of the 
orthophotomap corresponds approximately to 2.5 times the size 
of the ground element. For the standard aerial monitoring, 
where the size of the ground element is 25 cm, the resulting 
possible root-mean-square error of position in the 
orthophotomap generated according to the above given 
procedure is approx. 65 cm. 
2.3 Data processing 
The history of the landscape is specific to particular locations. 
Thorough knowledge requires that all available resources be 
used and an appropriate synthesis made. Aerial photography 
provides one source of information about the local landscape, 
which may be integrated using a geographic information 
system. Interpretive signs were used for manmade shapes. 
Regular lines and shapes were sought for structures which had 
been built and disappeared in past times, along with evidence of 
the former course of waterways which have currently been 
regulated and the appearance of crops which do not correspond 
to the presumed condition of soils which differ from their 
surroundings. Observed differences were supplemented by land 
surveys and the study of archival materials, primarily maps, and 
with the collection of information from witnesses. 
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Changes in the spectrum characteristic of agricultural fields with 
past human activity were identified in a 500 ha area at this 
location, arranged in chronological order by era of origin. 
An archaeological site (Gojda, 2000) includes remains from the 
eneolithic era - circular trenches with a burial pit at center - as 
well as traces of Roman earth dwellings and the outlines of a 
medieval village. This 50 ha area is part of the cultural heritage 
and may be used for agricultural purposes but other uses are 
limited. (Figure 3.) 
Figure 3. Archaeological site 
At the start of the 1970s, wells for potable water were 
constructed at the location of interest. The fence around them 
increased from 50 ha in 1976 to 100 ha in 2000. The Level 1 
Hygienic Protection Zone encompasses 50 fenced hectares and 
the entire area is included in a Level 2 Hygienic Protection Zone. 
Two gas pipelines were run through the area in 1974 and 1984 
which are still visible on aerial images. Including a 50-meter 
protected zone, they occupy 50 ha. (Figure 4.)