Alexander Agoltsov
GIS Specialist
Sovzond Company
Russia

Biography
Alexander Agoltsov graduated from the ?Forest Faculty? of the ?Moscow State Forest University? in 2006 with a degree in ?GIS in forestry?. Since 2006 ? PhD student by specialty ?GIS and thematic processing of remote sensing data? in the ?Department of Information Technologies? at the same university. Since 2008 - GIS Specialist of the Sovzond Company, the main activity is remote monitoring of forests.

Abstract
Processing and Analysis of Remote Sensing Data in order to Obtain Relevant Information on the Characteristics and Condition of the Forest Fund

Co-Authors:
Oleg Sizov, Engineer, Sovzond Company
Natalia Rubtsova, Engineer Photogrammetrist, Sovzond Company

Continuous sustainable and stable forest management is impossible without the possession of relevant and reliable information on forest resources. Large areas of Russian forests make it impossible to obtain such information within a reasonable time by traditional methods. The development of the remote sensing technologies and accessibility of satellite imagery allow us to correct the situation. On the example of the Shershniovskoe forestry (Chelyabinsk Oblast) we have approved technologies for processing and analysis of remote sensing data in order to obtain relevant information on the characteristics and condition of the forest fund. The territory of the forestry is located in the South-Ural area of the forest steppe zone. Forestry's Forest Fund is represented by distributed over the territory forest areas of various sizes. We used several sets of satellite imagery: the actual high-resolution data obtained by WorldView-2 and GeoEye-1 satellites, the actual data obtained by the RapidEye constellation, as well as multiple coverage of Landsat-TM/ETM+(4-8) images (1987 - 2014 acquisition period) for the retrospective territory analysis. Before comprehensive analysis all images were preprocessed (orthorectification, radiometric and atmospheric correction). Using RapidEye images and segmentation technology the vector layer of homogeneous land areas was obtained. Then the areas were filled with different attribute information about the state of forests. The information about anthropogenic impact and foci of negative processes in the forests was obtained using high-resolution images. Landsat data analysis revealed changes in the forest area over the last 27 years. During the analysis, we've found numerous logging, burning, waterlogging zones in forests, foci of insects outbreaks. To assess the damage from insects we used specialized RGB-synthesis of 3 NDVI, calculated from the images obtained in different growing seasons (beg. of May - mid June - end of August) during one year. The result is a set of vector data describing the current state of the forest fund. The resulting information can be used to update the materials of forest management and forest planning documents.