METHOD FOR LANDSLIDES IDENTIFICATION AT THE SAO PAULO STATE COAST, BRAZIL

Satellite images are an important tool to map natural disaster, mainly debris flow. The Support Vector Machines (SVM) algorithm has been used to classify the natural disaster, obtaining good results, although some images present shadows and mists which difficult the classification. Some enhancements minimize those problems facilitating the classification process. This paper aims to present a method to classify debris flow areas near to an important road of the Sao Paulo State coast, Brazil, using LANDSAT images. Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) and SVM algorithms were applied. Due to the shadows the classification points huge debris flow areas. To neutralize the influence of shadows, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was employed which turns easier to sample the training areas and perform the classification. MLC algorithm cannot be applied in case of a unique band, SVM can. So SVM is performed for the enhancement of classification and better results are observed with the combined methods SVM/NDVI. The overlay of this classification and Digital Terrain Model confirms the coincidence of debris flow event and classification. This method was very effective to the area now studied and may be useful to debris flow mapping

Change Detection Process and Techniques

Land use / land cover changes studies have become very interesting over the past decades through using remote sensing because of the availability of a suite of sensors operating at various imaging scales and scope of using various techniques as well as considered the good ways for effective monitoring and accurate land use /land cover changes. This paper looks into the following aspects related to the remote sensing technology, change detection process and techniques for land cover changes, and factor affecting change detection techniques and considerations. Keywords: Remote Sensing, Land Use / Land Cover, Change Detectio

A COMPARISON OF HAZE REMOVAL ALGORITHMS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON CLASSIFICATION ACCURACY FOR LANDSAT IMAGERY

The quality of Landsat images in humid areas is considerably degraded by haze in terms of their spectral response pattern, which limits the possibility of their application in using visible and near-infrared bands. A variety of haze removal algorithms have been proposed to correct these unsatisfactory illumination effects caused by the haze contamination. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the difference of two major algorithms (the improved homomorphic filtering (HF) and the virtual cloud point (VCP)) for their effectiveness in solving spatially varying haze contamination, and to evaluate the impacts of haze removal on land cover classification. A case study with exploiting large quantities of Landsat TM images and climates (clear and haze) in the most humid areas in China proved that these haze removal algorithms both perform well in processing Landsat images contaminated by haze. The outcome of the application of VCP appears to be more similar to the reference images compared to HF. Moreover, the Landsat image with VCP haze removal can improve the classification accuracy effectively in comparison to that without haze removal, especially in the cloudy contaminated area

Impact of logging operations on forest ecosystem in the Khantai mountain region and forest cover mapping

Forests in Mongolia yield low productivity and are vulnerable to disturbances from drought, fire, pests, and illegal logging. Such forests can quickly lose their ecological balance. Logging activities in these areas are limited in monitoring and controls. This study assesses two different logging operations for their natural regeneration capacity by comparing the composition of the soil, soil organisms, physical and chemical properties, and forest cover change after the completion of logging operations. The logging operations were analyzed in two different regions, the Khartsai and Tariakhtai threshold in Selenge soum, Bulgan province. A skyline logging operation was undertaken on Khartsai threshold in 1983 and a tractor logging operation (clear-cutting) on Tariakhtai threshold in 1987. After the completion of the logging, the forests were naturally regenerated. In 2002, soil samples were collected and soil organisms and physical and chemical properties were examined. Satellites images were also used to evaluate forest cover changes after the end of the logging operations. Significant differences in the naturally regenerated tree species in the skyline logging, tractor logging, and natural forest areas were observed. Average tree ring growth was 0.9mm in the skyline logging site, 0.6mm in the tractor logging site, and 1.2mm in the natural forest. Based on forest cover changes observed in satellite images, the density of naturally regenerated tree species in the natural forest area was higher than that in the skyline logging area. In contrast, the latter recorded a higher density than that in the tractor logging area. Therefore, processing of satellite images of forest cover changes with high-resolution data provides valuable information for the local forest community and helps decision-makers in their further actions

Rekreatiivne mahutavus Eestis

Master’s thesis Chair of Landscape ArchitectureThis master's thesis is analysing various recreational areas and researching recreational capacity of the landscape in Estonian outdoor conditions. The aim of the work is to study and analyze how different recreation areas are used, what impact such recreation areas have on nature and how they affect people's choices and preferences. The research method was a combination of a qualitative and a quantitative method, for which three different surveys were conducted – site-based surveys and observations, interviews and an online questionnaire. Results showed that the use of recreational areas is most influenced by location and distance, access to them and various recreational elements. Another important factor influencing the use of recreation areas, which was used to compare different recreational areas, is the availability of different facilities. Such facilities included parking, information boards, toilets, picnic areas, various location-based activities and attractions. Of the different impacts, four major problems have been identified in this work. These included overcrowding, disturbance of natural areas and plants, waste management and wheelchair access to hiking trails, and various paving materials. Such problems can be solved by proper planning and estimating the right size of the crowd, as well as creating opportunities for all visitors to the recreation area.Antud magistritöös analüüsitakse erinevaid rekreatsioonialasid Eestis ja uuritakse maastiku rekreatiivset mahutavust Eesti välitingimustes. Töö eesmärgiks on uurida ja analüüsida kuidas erinevaid rekreatsioonialasid kasutatakse, millist mõju avaldavad sellised puhkealad loodusele ja kuidas need mõjutavad inimeste valikuid ja eelistusi. Uurimismeetod oli kombinatsioon kvalitatiivsest ja kvantitatiivsest meetodist, mille jaoks teostati kolm erinevat uurimust - vaatlused, intervjuud ja veebiküsimustik. Tulemustest selgus, et kõige rohkem mõjutab rekratsioonialade kasutamist asukoht ja kaugus, nendele juurdepääs ja erinevad rekreatsioonielemendid. Teine oluline tegur, mis mõjutab puhkealade kasutamist ja mida kasutati erinevate rekreatsioonialade võrdlemisel, on erinevate rajatiste olemasolu. Selliste rajatiste hulka kuulusid parkimine, infotahvlid, tualettruumid, pikinikualad, erinevad asukohast sõltuvad atraktsioonid ja vaatamisväärsused. Erinevatest mõjudest on antud töös välja toodud neli suuremat probleemi. Milleks olid ülerahvastatus, looduslike alade ja taimede häirimine, prügikorraldus ja matkaradade ligipääs ratastooliga ja erinevad teekattematerjalid. Selliseid probleeme saab lahendada korraliku planeerimise ja rahvahulga õige suuruse hindamise, samuti kõigi puhkeala külastajate jaoks võimaluste loomisega

Implementation of community-based natural resource management at Hustai National Park, Mongolia

Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2024Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) combines scientific knowledge with community involvement to manage a variety of common pool resources (CPR) in a sustainable manner. In Mongolia, CBNRM has been implemented to manage rangelands in response to severe winters and rangeland degradation. In particular, Hustai National Park (HNP) has faced challenges due to the increased number of livestock which has led to exceeding the carrying capacity of the Buffer Zone rangelands despite efforts to implement CBNRM since 2004. The overarching question guiding the research is: How have CBNRM principles been implemented at HNP? In order to answer the research question, the research design employed the case study method, with HNP as the case. A convergent parallel design was utilized. Data collection methods consisted of survey questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and archival document reviews. Survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain data from the stakeholder groups, which consisted of HNP officials, local government officials, and herders. The research revealed that CBNRM principles have not been fully implemented for protecting the Buffer Zone rangelands. More specifically, most CBNRM principles have not been met; the use of a top-down approach has been employed; and there are conflicts between CBNRM principles and interpretations of the Mongolian Constitution. Furthermore, the research indicated that CBNRM principles have not protected the Buffer Zone rangelands, as evidence indicates the state of the Buffer Zone rangelands has moved to a degraded state between 2010 and 2020, primarily due to overgrazing. Also, the study suggests that there have been some improvements; however, CBNRM methods have generally failed to improve the livelihood of the majority of herders. Therefore, the research emphasizes the need for a more effective implementation of CBNRM principles at HNP

Integrative Assessment and Modelling of the Non Timber Forest Products Potential in Nuba Mountains of Sudan by Field Methods, Remote Sensing and GIS

Pressure imposed at any one place or point in time results in a complexity of spatial and temporal interactions within topographical ecosystems. It can be propagated through the system and may have implications for future ecosystem functions over a wide array of various spatial and temporal scales. Under conditions of wars and other socio-economic conflicts, these processes are most forceful in developing countries amidst declining economic growth, lack of awareness, deterioration of ecosystem services, loss of existing traditional knowledge bases and weak governance structures. Forests are an essential part of ecosystem services, not only as a resource but as a contributor to biological systems as well. They represent one of the most important sectors in the context of Environmental Change (EC), both from the point of mitigation as well as adaptation. While forests are projected to be adversely impacted under EC, they are also providing opportunities to mitigate these changes. Yet this is one of the least understood sectors, especially at the regional level - many of its fundamental metrics such as mitigation potential, vulnerability and the likely impacts of EC are still not well understood until now. Thus, there is a need for research and field investigations into the synergy of mitigation and adaptation so that the cost of addressing EC impacts can be reduced and the co-benefits can be increased. The aim of this study is to focus particularly on forest-based ecosystem services and to use forests as a strategy for inducing environmental change within the Nuba Mountains in Sudan, specifically for systems in poor condition under EC, and furthermore to explore forests as an entry point for investigating the relationship between urban and rural development and ecosystem services. In addition, the aim is also to raise understanding of the relations between patterns of local-level economic and demographic changes, the nature and value of local ecosystem services, and the role of such services in increasingly interlinked urban and rural livelihood systems. The methodology applied in the current research is three-pronged: a formal literature review, a socio–economic survey (based on semi-structured interviews of household heads via Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), with a focus on group discussions, informal meetings, free listening and key informant techniques), and multitemporal optical satellite data analysis (i.e. Landsat and RapidEye). Landsat imagery was utilized to gather the spatial characteristics of the region and to study the Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC) changes during the period from 1984 to 2014. Meanwhile, RapidEye imagery was used to generate the tree species distribution map. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were applied to analyze socio-economic data. Moreover, Food Consumption Score (FCS) was used to gauge both diversity and frequency of food consumption in surveyed areas. Geographic object-based image analysis (i.e. K-Nearest Neighbour classifier and knowledge-based classifiers) based on a developed model of integrated features (such as vegetation indices, DEM, thematic layers and meteorological information) was applied. Post Classification Analysis (PCA) as well as Post Change Detection (PCD) techniques were used. Hotspot analysis was conducted to detect the areas affected by deforestation. Furthermore, Ordinary Least Squares regression (OLS), Autocorrelation (Moran's) analysis, and Geographically Weighted Regression analyses (GWR) were applied to address the interaction of the different socioeconomic/ecological factors on Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) collection and to simulate the dependency scenarios of NTFPs along with their impact on poverty alleviation. Additionally, simulation was performed to estimate the future forest density and predict the dependency on forest services. An increasing impact of intensive interactions between the rural and urban areas has long been acknowledged. However, recent changes in the global political economy and environmental systems, as well as local dynamics of the study area driven by war, drought and deforestation, have led to an increasing rapidity and depth in rural transformation, as well as to a significant impact on urban areas. Like most environmental problems, the effects of these drivers are complex and are stressed diversely across different geographic regions by the socio-political processes that underlie recent economic and cultural globalization. These interactions and processes have increasingly brought rapid changes in land cover, social, institutional and livelihood transformation across broad areas of South Kordofan. Moreover, the study unveils new dynamics such as high rates of migration and mobility by the indigenous population and the increasing domination of market-centric livelihoods in many villages that were once dominated by rural agricultural and natural resourcesbased socio-economic systems. Furthermore, the research highlights the significant roles of NTFPs and trees in contributing to Nuba Mountains’ economic development, food security and environmental health, indicating which requirements need to be addressed in order to improve these potentials. The study proves that drawing on a wide range of these products for livelihood strengthens rural people’s ability to deal with and adapt to both EC and extreme events. Moreover, the results underline the importance of participatory approaches of rural women and their impact on NTFPs management with recommendations of more emphasis on potential roles and the ability of women to participate in public fora. Furthermore, the study shows that the use of high-resolution satellite imagery, integrated with model-based terrestrial information, provides a precise knowledge about the magnitude and distribution of LU/LC patterns. These methods can make an important contribution towards a better understanding of EC dynamics over time. The study reveals that more information exchange is needed to inform actors and decision makers regarding specific experiences, capacity gaps and knowledge to address EC. Subsequently, new policies and strategies are required to much more specifically focus on how to deal with consequences of longer-term EC rather than with the impacts of sudden natural disasters