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can be registered by multi-spectral scanner systems. For
spruce and fir stands the spectral properties are highly
correlated with the severity of the damage, measured by
terrestrial means or aerial photography. This has been
demonstrated in numerous investigations (Rock et al.,
1986; Khorram et al., 1990; Brockhaus et al., 1993;
Ekstrand, 1990; Lambert et al. 1993; Kenneweg et al.
1993; Schardt et al. 1995 and others). Several authors
have shown that it is possible to distinguish 3 to 4
damage levels (Kadro, 1990; Fórster, 1989; Häusler,
1991). The basis for the separation of distinct levels
relies on the traditional classification scheme, with few
exceptions. Therefore, these studies lack in the ability to
compare the classification results in terms of damage
class definitions. Satellite remote sensing, on the other
hand, focuses on stands or groups of trees as the basic
object and has the advantage to detect deforestation and
opening-up of stands as an additional damage symptom.
Therefore there is a strong demand in the development
of new standardised damage levels, which can reliably be
derived from spectral information and which can easily be
compared.
In conclusion, although the use of satellite remote
sensing in forest decline mapping has been
demonstrated in a number of studies, it has proven to be
operational only in specific cases, in restricted areas and
with certain assumptions. It has never been tested for
large areas with a harmonised classification scheme. In
the participating countries, investigations on forest
damage assessment by satellite remote sensing have
been carried out since several years but only on locally
limited areas. Due to the individual methods applied and
the different definitions of damage classes, the
comparison of the results is still impossible. Therefore,
special emphasis has to be given to the development of a
harmonised classification system and the definition of
comparable damage classes on a regional level, which
implies the need for further operational tests.
3. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The aim of the project “Large Area Operational
Experiment for Forest Damage Monitoring Using Satellite
Remote Sensing" was to propose, develop and test
methods and systems for classifying forest damages for
large areas in Europe. For the purpose of this
experiment, forest damage is defined by destruction of
forest canopy and forest decline.
The main interest was to identify damage levels which
can be reliably classified by the means of satellite remote
sensing and to propose a standardised mapping system
as a complement to ongoing European damage
monitoring programmes.
Specifically, the project goals were:
* to provide additional spatial information on heavily
damaged mountain forests in Central Europe
* to develop damage classifications based upon field
observations and satellite image
735
e to evaluate and verify the accuracy of the methods
applied.
4. TEST SITES
For this investigation such test sites were chosen where
national projects for forest damage classification with
remote sensing are already in progress of being carried
out. The work to be performed was closely related to the
investigations of the national projects. The experiences
gathered from there could be incorporated into the
LAOE.
The Advisory Board agreed to restrict the work to the
most endangered low-mountain ranges of the
participating countries. The following areas were selected
as test sites:
1. Sudety Mountains (Polish project)
2. Ore Mountains (Czech project: Kruáné Hory; German
project: Erzgebirge)
Sumava Mountains (Czech project)
Krkono$e Mountains (Czech project)
Harz (German project)
9o On B&W
Fichtelgebirge (German project)
5. THE PARTICIPATING RESEARCH TEAMS
The work for the Czech test sites was performed by the
Czech Forest Management Institute, LESPROJEKT, in
Brandys nad Labem under the contracts No.
G/CON/94/19UNEP and G/CON/95/02-UNEP as part of
the UNEP Programme in Europe. The project was carried
out in close co-operation with the firm Stoklasa Tech.
The Polish experiment was performed within the
contracts G/CON/94/18-UNEP and G/CON/95/01-UNEP
by the Remote Sensing and Spatial Information
Centre, OPOLIS, of the Institute of Geodesy and
Cartography. IGiK, in Warsaw.
The German Harz Mountains were investigated by the
research team of the Institut für Landschafts und
Freiraumplanung of the Technical University, TU
Berlin. The research project was funded by the Federal
Ministry for Research and Technology, BMFT, under the
project no. 03393474.
The project team for the German test sites Fichtelgegirge
and Erzgebirge consists of the partners Company for
Applied Remote Sensing, GAF Ltd. - Munich, the
Bavarian and Saxon State Institutes of Forestry,
LWF-Freising and LAF-Graupa, respectively. The
project is financed by the German Space Agency, DARA,
and the Bavarian and Saxon Forest Ministries under the
project no. E-50K9207-ZA.
All the investigations were carried out in close co-
operation with research groups from Sweden, Finland,
France and the USA.
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996
