The experience of developing large-scale geobotanical maps based on field and remote sensing data

Abstract

The article discusses the experience of compiling large-scale vegetation maps, the advantages of using aerial photography data from a radio-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the technology of geo-information systems in combination with ground-based traditional geobotanical mapping methods. The use of remote sensing data is one of the ways to quickly obtain data for vegetation mapping. Currently this method is actively used and developed. However, satellite data has several disadvantages. The use of UAV is a promising direction for timely and cost-effective environmental monitoring. Using the aerial photo obtained in this way, it is possible, on the one hand, to trace the dynamics of vegetation during one season, and on the other, to identify and map both different plant communities and populations of individual species that do not coincide in the phenological phase of development with each other. The aim of the study was to reflect the heterogeneity of vegetation cover on a detailed geobotanical map in a simple way, which will act as the basis for further research. The map constructed by the described method is the most objective reflection of the state of the vegetation cover.