Michael Bolsunovsky
First Deputy Director General
Sovzond
Russia

Biography
Michael Bolsunovsky, First Deputy Director General, Sovzond Company Ltd. In 2004 Michael Bolsunovsky received a master's degree in business administration (MBA) in Russian foreign trade academy. Since 2004 Michael Bolsunovsky works in Sovzond Company Ltd. as Deputy Director General. Now he is the First Deputy Director General of Sovzond Company Ltd.

Abstract
Mapping of Clear-cuts and Forest Biophysical Parameters Using Combined SAR and Optical Data

The areas of actively logged forests in Russia are monitored nowadays once per year with optical satellite imagery. But usually optical images cannot cover all these areas even one time from the start of optical acquisitions season to the middle of autumn - gaps in imagery coverage usually exist due to cloud conditions. And there is a task in the future to monitor actively logged areas every quarter of the year, including winter. Optical data cannot alone solve this task. Satellite SAR data can image any area independent from cloud conditions, in any season of the year, day and night. But techniques of processing and rules for interpretation of SAR data for the purpose of complete and partial clear-cuts detection should be developed. The requirements for SAR system to solve this tasks should be developed. The accuracy of clear-cuts detection should be estimated. These issues were solved in our project. From the other side, there is very important task - to map and then to monitor forest biophysical parameters (tree species, tree heights, tree trunks diameters at breast height, timber volume). This task can also be solved by satellite SAR data (L-band). Specific algorithms and software were developed to generate in as much as possible automatic way above mentioned forest thematic maps. Accuracies of clear-cuts detection and of forest parameters thematic maps were estimated with usage of ground truth data.