1017 
MULTI-TEMPORAL DATA INTEGRATION FOR THE CHANGEABILITY DETECTION 
OF THE UNIQUE SLOWINSKI NATIONAL PARK LANDSCAPE 
K. Michalowska 1 * 3, *, E. Glowienka b 
a AGH, Dept, of Geology, Environmental Protection and Geoturism, University of Science and Technology Cracow 
(AGH), 30059 Krakow, Poland - kmichalo@poczta.fm 
AGH, Dept, of Geoinformation, Photogrammetry and Environmental Remote Sensing, University of Science and 
Technology Cracow (AGH), 30059 Krakow, Poland - eglo@agh.edu.pl 
Commission VII, WG VII/5 
KEY WORDS: Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Multi-temporal data, GIS, DEM, Aerial Photography, Environment, Analysis 
ABSTRACT: 
Multitemporal aerial photography (1964-2004), Digital Elevation Models (DEM), orthophotomaps, thematic vector layers and 
satellite images have been integrated for the changes detection of unique environment of the Slowinski National Park (SNP). The 
Park is situated on the south Baltic Sea coast (the northern Poland). It is known for its moving sand dunes, which migrate with a 
speed of 3-10 m per year. The project is based on the GIS (Geographical Information System) technology and uses data from various 
sources and periods. Such an approach made it possible to look at the studies in comprehensive way, taking into consideration 
almost all factors that contribute to ongoing changes of the SNP environment. The study was focused on analyses of the long-term 
coast processes, movement of dune zones and the vegetation changes in that area. Multi-temporal data have been performed and 
integrated using GIS technology for the changes detection of the unique environment of the Park. DEMs derived from aerial 
photography provided relief data, which were used to indicate selected features changes of the SNP landscape. Differential maps of 
elevation changes made it possible to recognize areas of elevation gain through the accumulation of sand and areas of elevation loss 
caused by erosion. There also were computed maps showing horizontal migration of the moving dune, as well as evolution of the 
dune area and morphology. Based on the classification of the satellite images results and NDVI vegetation index it has been 
observed vegetation changes over time 1979-2000 of environment in the Park area. 
1. ITRODUCTION 
The Slowinski National Park (SNP) is situated on the south 
Baltic Sea coast (the northern Poland). The Park was 
recognized by UNESCO to be the World Biosphere Reserve. It 
also is covered by the international RASMAR Convention, 
which concerns the preservation of aquatic and mud birds 
habitats. It is the only national park in Poland, which preserves 
seaside dune ecosystems, as well as lake, peat bog, and forest 
ones. It is also known for its moving sand dunes, which migrate 
with a speed of 3-10 m per year. The dunes, big coastal lakes, 
marshy terrains and swamps occupy major part of the Park area. 
The exceptionally strong dynamics of geological processes and 
hardly accessible places cause that any research work in that 
area is very inconvenient. For that reason, there are not many 
works, which would be covering the whole Park area at the 
same time, and those few include (Dzi?ciolowski 1973, Marsz 
1975, Kobendzina 1976, Wojterski et al. 1979, Bednorz 1983, 
Rotnicki 1987, Rabski 1992, Piotrowska 1997). Research on the 
subject matter of the impact of eolian processes upon changes 
in the SNP landscape was undertaken by Miszalski 35 years ago 
(Miszalski 1973). Based on air images from the period of 1951- 
1968 and on topographic maps, he has carried out the 
quantitative analysis of dunes and evolved the contemporary 
development of eolian forms. Modem solutions in the fields of 
photogrammetry and remote sensing, as well as the use of GIS 
technology offer wide possibilities of not only the continuation 
of Miszalski's research but also an extension of the research 
scope. The use of multi-temporal aerial photos and satellite 
images makes it possible to investigate the dynamics of changes 
not only in eolian forms (Mitasova et al., 2006), coastal zones 
(Sanjeevi 2000, Mitasova et al., 2004, Ricchetti et al., 2004), 
but also in flora and other elements of the environment (Zanutta 
et al., 2006, Kim et al., 2006). The project is based on the GIS 
(Geographic Information System) technology and uses data 
from various sources and periods. Such an approach made it 
possible to approach research in a comprehensive way, taking 
into consideration almost all factors that contribute to the 
ongoing changes in the SNP environment and landscape. The 
study was focused on analyses of the long-term (forty years) 
coastal processes and movement of dune zones in the Slowinski 
National Park. Moreover, it concerned vegetation changes in 
the Park. 
2. DATA AND METHODS 
2.1 Data 
The investigation and analyses of variability of eolian forms are 
possible thanks to multi-temporal aerial photos from the years 
1964-2004 (Table 1), as well as satellite images, provided by 
LANDSAT(Table 2). 
The archival aerial photos were scanned with 14-pm pixel 
resolution, using the precise PHOTOSCAN TD (Intergraph / 
Zeiss) photogrammetric scanner. 
The project makes use of LANDSAT MSS satellite images 
from 1979 and LANDSAT ETM+ satellite images from 2000, 
* Corresponding author.