MINA305 Remote Sensing in Forest and Natural Resource Management

Remote sensing is an important source for obtaining information for forest- and natural resource management. The course covers the following parts of the subject area:

1. Background for the use of remote sensing in mapping, monitoring and analysis of ecosystems and natural resources, with specific focus on forest ecosystems.
2. Different types of sensors and platforms for collecting remotely sensed data and their specific characteristics. Review of areas of application.
3. Different methods for analyzing and using remotely sensed data in forest and nature mapping.
4. Use of remotely sensed data in sample-based surveys, including model-based and model-assisted estimation.

Knowledge:

• The course will provide the student with good theoretical and practical knowledge of the collection, processing and use of remotely sensed data for mapping, assessment and monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems, with an emphasis on forest ecosystems.

Skills:

• The student should be able to plan and carry out projects involving remote sensing analysis for mapping, assessment and monitoring, including assessing needs and methods for including reference data.

General competence:

• The student must be able to choose and justify appropriate data sources and methods for different types of applications with regard to scale, data quality and cost, as well as critically assess the information produced from remotely sensed data.