Use of the LANDSAT MSS for forest inventory and regional management: The european experience

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Use of the LANDSAT MSS for forest inventory and regional management in Europe is reviewed on the basis of literature and the author's own experience. In Europe, the regional forestry application programs using LANDSAT MSS data have been characterized by a low degree of governmental support and a lack of coordination. The responsibility of introducing the LANDSAT technology to forestry community has been assumed by universities and research organizations. The University of Freiburg, the Technical Research Centre of Finland and the ITC in the Netherlands seem to be leading centers in the field. Research groups in Sweden, France, Italy and Switzerland have also contributed to the development of forestry applications. Two operational applications have emerged: annual monitoring of clear cut areas (Sweden, Finland) and forest site type mapping for forest taxation purposes (Finland). Those and other case studies under topics (1) Forest inventory, (2) Forest mapping, and (3) Forest change monitoring are reviewed in more detail. Among the problems around LANDSAT MSS applications the following ones have been discussed: (1) Availability, quality and timeliness of the data, (2) Price trends of the products, and (3) Ground resolution. Among the promises, again, the change monitoring capabilities of LANDSAT MSS are recognized by the owners of large forest land areas, • LANDSAT program has helped European foresters in identifying relevant issues and asking right questions about satellite remote sensing for forestry. LANDSAT MSS has revealed conflicting goals, users with poorly understood needs, technical uncertainties, an underdeveloped institutional environment and a lack of professional training programs.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: