ALPMON FINAL REPORT - ARC systems research

Contract ENV4-CT96-0359 ALPMON
2.2.1 Set-up and Harmonisation of Parameters (WP3)
ALPMON envisaged a basic supra-national landscape register for an alpine monitoring system. To
ensure the comparability of the information content for different test sites and later on for different
regions, the parameters worked at in ALPMON were harmonised.
The elaboration of this work package started with a workshop on June, 24th. 1997, attended by all
partners and some of the customers. Followed by a discussion via mail, a list of parameters (Annex 4)
and a guideline for their use during ground truth collection were established. Every partner had close
contacts with his customer during this discussion. Parameter list and guideline were already used in
the collection of ground information.
All partners agreed on a comprehensive list of single parameters and their classes. The assignment of
areas, characterised by these parameters, to main vegetation or land use types (e.g. forest, non-forest,
non-vegetation) could be done with respect to the specific requirements in each test site or of each
customer. The assignments differed, but the common parameters and classes with common definition
ensured comparability, regardless of the further assignment.
To improve comparability, emphasis was laid on information concerning the sources of date and their
genesis. For this purpose, the guideline specified meta data, which had to be stored together with each
information collected.
The successful use of the parameters in the collecting phase of ground information demonstrated the
practicability of the results of this work package. For all of the AMS-indicators (defined for the Alpine
Monitoring System of the Alpine Convention) there are relevant ALPMON-parameters. Not all AMSindicators
can be assessed with remote sensing alone. For some of them, additional information is
necessary. ALPMON worked out a list of data sets, which should be available in a GIS together with
the classification results of satellite date for these indicators. Some ALPMON-parameters are not
addressed in AMS, although they cover important types of alpine surfaces needed both for the Alpine
Convention and the national customers. As the nomenclature system developed within ALPMON is a
modular system consisting of very detailed parameters rather than final classes it is so flexible that it
can be adopted to additional future requirements of the Alpine Convention.
2.2.2 Collecting of Ground Information (WP4)
For the classification of satellite images detailed information about the condition in the field is
indispensable. This information was used for training of the classifier as well as for the verification
of the classification results, using separate reference data sets for each purpose. The ground
information within this project was mainly derived from aerial photographs for two reasons. Firstly,
because there are sufficient suitable photographs available and secondly, because these are very
well suited to bridge the gap between satellite images and the actual situation on the ground.
Beside aerial photos, ground information was also derived from field survey and digital databases.
In all test sites the same harmonised parameters and definitions following the nomenclature
established in WP3 were included and used successfully. Only if a harmonised nomenclature is
used, the classification results in the different test sites become comparable respectively
compatible.
For the ground truth survey, the following methods were available:
1. interpretation of Colour Infrared aerial photos (1:5.000 - 1:20.000)
2. interpretation of Colour aerial photos (1:5.000 - 1:20.000)
3. interpretation of Black/White aerial photos (1:5.000 - 1:20.000)
4. field survey
5. processing of existing forest maps (1:5.000 - 1:10.000)
6. processing of existing topographic maps (1:10.000 - 1:50.000)
7. processing of existing orthophotos
8. processing of existing digital databases
The ground information for all test sites was collected following the guidelines defined in the
previous WP 3. The classification of satellite images showed that all existing land cover and land
use types were represented properly by the selected training areas. Main sources of the collecting
of ground information were aerial photos and field surveys. By Joanneum Research a form-sheet
JR, RSDE, ALU, LMU, Seibersdorf, WSL 17