Image Analysis in Natural Resource Management

Modern airborne and spaceborne sensors provide information on the status of vegetation and land surface within and beyond the visible spectrum. For example, SAR can provide an assessment of rice growth, the change of ice types in the polar region and oil seepage on the ocean. Hyperspectral data can be used to assess detailed soil characteristics and mineral content for efficient exploration, while multi-temporal and multi-spectral images help to differentiate varieties of fruits and assess their health, which is invaluable for precision farming.

Land cover analysis over large and remote areas needs to be extracted accurately in order to provide the required level of detail. To compare results over time and geographic areas, analyses must be standardized. Only highly automated analysis processes can deliver the required accuracy and standardization.

Current conventional methodologies fall short of this standard. For example, when taking forest inventories, current automated image analysis tools examine forests at the stand level which does not provide accurate volume and tree level information. By contrast, Definiens' technology extracts and measures each individual tree, giving a far more accurate assessment of stand volume.

Reference Projects

The University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Environment Systems Ltd use Definiens image analysis platform to support the mapping and monitoring of semi-natural habitats by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW).The technology provides advanced segmentation and classification of satellite remote sensing data acquired across Wales.

“The Countryside Council for Wales needs to map and monitor habitats and landscapes to see the effects of agricultural policies and the response of biodiversity to climate change. Definiens Enterprise Image Intelligence™ Suite gives us a remote sensing-based method that captures our intuitive knowledge of landscape ecology and applies this at a regional scale. This gives us results we can understand and update in a natural way.”

Dr. Richard Lucas Reader at the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences University of Wales, Aberystwyth

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki used Definiens technology to extract detailed information about burnt forest areas and to analyze the high resolution Ikonos satellite data in combination with a digital elevation model. This resulted in very accurate and comprehensive maps about the area. The extent of the environmental damage gave scientists the evidence needed to warn of dire changes to the air quality and temperature of the city.

“We required detailed and accurate results and insights of the Mount Parnitha forest area in a timely manner. The Definiens technology was critical in analyzing and evaluating the damage.”

Dr. Ioannis Gitas, Lecturer at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
(For further insights, please read the article “

Wildfires & Remote Sensing” written by Dr. Gitas and his colleagues at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki published in GEOInformatics, October / November 2007)

Further natural resource management reference projects and case studies