Remote Sensing to Assess and Monitor Forest Condition

This project will explore use of remote sensing from satellite images, aircraft and Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) to improve monitoring of forests. The candidate may have skills in one of a number of related areas (e.g. Geography, Forestry, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology), and would join a leading interdisciplinary team based in the Dept. of Geography, Swansea University.

Forests play a significant role in the global carbon cycle, through uptake by photosynthesis and long-term storage in biomass. As a result, countries are required to carry out an inventory of forest resources under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. However forests are dynamic, responding to environmental conditions and are subject to disturbance, both natural (e.g. wind damage or impacts from pests and diseases) and through management or deforestation.

In recent years, there has been widespread concern about the spread of pests and diseases in Britain’s forests, and the damage that these cause. Changes in productive forest area and forest growth can impact the accuracy of information maintained about our forest resources. These factors can lead to loss of wildlife habitats, reduced carbon uptake from the atmosphere, economic impacts on forest industries and destruction of recreational areas enjoyed by the public. Early detection of key indicators of vegetation condition and change will inform effective management and help to limit and contain the problem.

The Forestry Commission currently relies on field inspections to determine the location and nature of threats. For effective management, mapping of spatial extent, progression and damage severity is imperative. Remote sensing offers a means both to monitor vegetation condition indicators and to estimate key forest parameters over large areas and at frequent intervals.

The project is expected to combine remote sensing from UAV, airborne and satellite sensors, field data collection and modelling techniques to facilitate the early detection of vegetation condition and processes of decline and recovery. The research is carried out in close collaboration with the Forestry Commission agency Forest Research, ensuring the operational relevance of the results and their benefits for UK forestry needs.