Conservation Management Institute
Air Video for Vegetation Mapping

Background

Aerial videography is a method of acquiring data quickly and cost-effectively using analog or digital cameras connected to a GPS unit and flying at low altitudes.  Thousands of high-resolution spatial data points are collected and interpreted or evaluated in a lab.  Data are used for generation and accuracy assessment of vegetation maps.  Aerial videography is a technique utilized by many state Gap Analysis Projects.  We will examine equipment and software setup options and discuss issues of  timing, level of detail, and accuracy.

We will focus on application of aerial videography in vegetation mapping, but other uses include:

  • Land use/land cover change mapping
  • Fragmentation analysis
  • Watershed delineation
  • Wetland mapping
  • Water quality monitoring
  • Wildlife surveys (colonial bird or species counts)
  • Feature mapping (snags, forest openings, power lines)
  • Monitoring inaccessible sites


Who Should Attend

Employees of federal, state, local, and foreign natural resource agencies, NGOs, universities, and private businesses interested in aerial videography applications.  Knowledge of GIS and remote sensing principles is helpful but not necessary.  The class includes both instructor-led sessions and hands-on exercises.  Handouts and other materials are provided to participants.

Syllabus

    Day 1

  • Overview/history of air video
  • GIS/GPS/remote sensing concepts & review
  • Sampling Design I: data needs, available data
  • Sampling Design II: transect layout, survey problems
  • Equipment I: analog video
  • Equipment II: lab setup

    • Day 2

  • Data collection I: flight details
  • Post-processing flight data
  • Setup of interpreted data library
  • Data collection II:  ground truth data
  • Creation of a land cover key
  • Interpretation of land cover

    • Day 3

  • Accuracy assessment
  • Review: analog video
  • Introduction: digital video
  • Mosaicking: manual and automatic
  • Stereo interpretation
  • Review: digital air video applications, pros/cons
  • Synthesis and analysis of data - GIS and beyond


Cost

$175 a student per day plus instructor travel cost (Minimum of 10 students per class)

For more information

Contact:


Conservation Management Institute
Andrew Rosenberger
203 West Roanoke Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
phone:(540) 231-7348
email: anrosenb@vt.edu
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Last updated 02 November 2000   Please contact the webmaker with comments or questions.