Abstract
Advanced monitoring and mapping of forest areas using the latest technological advances in satellite imagery is an alternative solution for sustainable forest management compared to conventional ground measurements. Remote sensing products have been a key source of information and cost-effective options for monitoring changes in harvested areas. Despite recent advances in satellite technology with a broad variety of spectral and temporal resolutions, monitoring the areal extent of harvested forest areas in managed forests is still a challenge, primarily due to the highly dynamic spatiotemporal patterns of logging activities. Our goal was to introduce a plot-based method for monitoring harvested forest areas from very high-resolution (VHR), low-cost satellite images. Our method encompassed two data categories, which included vegetation indices (VIs) and texture analysis (TA). Each group of data was used to model the amount of harvested volume both independently and in combination. Our results indicated that the composition of all spectral bands can improve the accuracy of all models of average volume by 23.52 RMSE reduction and total volume by 33.57 RMSE reduction. This method demonstrated that monitoring and extrapolation of the calculated relation and results from smaller forested areas could be applied as an automatic remote-based supervised monitoring method over larger forest areas.
Highlights
Knowing the extent of forest cover disturbances related to anthropogenic interventions, timber harvesting, over large managed areas is important to assess: (1) the construction or update of forest inventories [1,2]; (2) forest health and productivity [3,4]; (3) risks of climate change [5]; (4) carbon flux rates [6]; and (5) support required for forest management plans (FMPs) and decision making [7]
The vegetation indices (VIs) values calculated for pre- and post-harvest images were significantly different between years (Figures 6 and 8; Table 5)
The VI values calculated for pre- and post-harvest images were significantly different between years (TFhigeuVreIsv6a,l8u;eTsacballecu5l)a. tAedmfoonrgparlel-VaInsd, bpoothst-thhaersvleosptei-mbaasgeeds awnedredsisigtannifciec-abnatsleydd, iRffVerIeanntdbeNtwRVeeIn iRneydmeioacteresSse(wnFsi.eg2r0ue1r9teh,s1e16,o,28n5;3lyT9 ainbldeic5e)s
Summary
Knowing the extent of forest cover disturbances related to anthropogenic interventions, timber harvesting, over large managed areas is important to assess: (1) the construction or update of forest inventories [1,2]; (2) forest health and productivity [3,4]; (3) risks of climate change [5]; (4) carbon flux rates [6]; and (5) support required for forest management plans (FMPs) and decision making [7]. Selective logging, and uneven-aged stand management never decrease the growing stock to zero. Selective logging is a source of anthropogenic disturbance and is regarded as forest degradation. 50%–90% of forest cover is maintained after selective logging activities [13,14], crown openness can cause significant environmental consequences, like for instance semantic timber stock reduction [15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
