European forest observations by radars

Objective

EUFORA is a methodological research project proposed by a consortium of recognised specialists in Europe in the field of radar remote sensing of forests.
The objectives of the proposal are:
1) to evaluate the most advanced radar remote sensing research results with respect to forest information required in environment and climate studies, and also in forest management operations;
2) to validate methods and results in different European sites, in order to define unified methods applicable in European context.
Users in forestry and environmental monitoring at national and E.U. Ievel will contribute to the project by defining the relevant forest information to be retrieved and to evaluate the results.
The project is proposed to occupy a two year period and will include the following activities:
1) Cross validation of methods available among forum members in terms of forest conditions (sites in Finland, Sweden, France, UK, Switzerland) and in terms of methodology used. The radar data include satellite and airborne data, existing and to be acquired during the project. 2) Conduct of 2 joint experiments, one in Finland and one in France, with airbome systems operated by team members during satellite acquisition, in order to resolve discrepancies and to improve our understanding of specific topics (e.g; biomass retrieval, forest interferometry). 3) Synthesis of the results and development of methods applicable to a large range of forest conditions in Europe. The results will be evaluated quantitatively by users of forest information at national and E.U. Ievel (the subcontractors will make significant contributions to these aims) An evaluation of the results in terms of their contribution to climate studi will be given.
We anticipate providing unified methods for the following:
- mapping of forest / non-forest and mapping of broad leaf / coniferous forestusing multitemporal intensity and / or interferometric ERS data. - forest change detection (seasonal, freeze / thaw, clearcutting, storm, firedamage (if any)) using multitemporal / interferometric ERS data. - forest biomass parameter extraction using ERS interferometric andcomplementary airborne data..

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › mechanical engineering › vehicle engineering › aerospace engineering › satellite technology
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › forestry › silviculture
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › remote sensing
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › information engineering › telecommunications › radio technology › radar
• natural sciences › earth and related environmental sciences › atmospheric sciences › climatology

Programme(s)

• FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 030101 - Methodological research

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Address

18,avenue Edouard Belin
31055 Toulouse
France

Participants (8)

Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts

France

Address

500,rue J.f. Breton
34093 Montpellier

Chalmers University of Technology AB

Sweden

Address

412 96 Göteborg

GAMMA REMOTE SENSING RESEARCH AND CONSULTING AG

Switzerland

Address

130,thunstrasse 130
3074 Muri B. Bern

HELSINKI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Finland

Address

5a,otakaari 5a
02015 Espoo

National Defence Research Establishment

Sweden

Address

581 11 Linköping

Technical Research Centre of Finland

Finland

Address

8,metallimiehenkuja
02044 Espoo

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Sweden

Address

901 83 Umeå

University of Sheffield

United Kingdom

Address

Hounsfield Road
S3 7RH Sheffield