Multiscale remote sensing in nature conservation
Remote sensing has become a fundamental method employed in the collection of data for the
monitoring of sites and phenomena that are subject to nature conservation. The continuous sensing
of the Earth’s surface by satellite sensors provides multimodal (e.g., optical, thermal, radar, lidar) data
at a wide range of temporal and spatial resolutions. The spatial and potentially spectral resolution of
satellite sensors represents a limitation for certain applications in conservation. Currently, unmanned
aerial systems (UAS) are being employed due to their flexibility in terms of both the variability of
sensors deployed and resolution. In addition to in-situ, primarily point-based measurements, the
datasets acquired with UAS can be used for the calibration of models based on spaceborne data. The
application of advanced data processing methods, including machine and deep learning, increases the
possibility for obtaining relevant information about the state and evolution of nature from all sorts of
collected data. The objective of the special session is to present the current state of knowledge and
challenges associated with the utilisation of remote sensing methods across diverse spatial, temporal,
and spectral domains in the field of nature conservation. In addition to innovative technological and
methodological approaches, the session is open to contributions presenting examples of best practices
of utilising remote sensing for the implementation of effective conservation actions, the transfer of
research findings into practical applications, but also studies that have encountered limitations in
existing approaches.
Systematic monitoring of sensitive ecosystems threatened by anthropogenic activities and global
climate change is of high importance for effective and successful practice and management in nature
conservation. Development of methodologies capable of timely detection of land cover changes on
various spatial scales, especially in protected areas, is still challenging due to different factors such as
heterogeneity of land cover/vegetation/biodiversity or complex terrain. Some of these issues can be
solved by employing UAS monitoring, which has practical limitations due to high time and cost
demands. New satellite missions provide increased spatial, spectral, and time resolution datasets that
need to be tested and calibrated, and new processing workflows need to be established in order to
transfer them to conservation practice. The proposed special session aims to address these challenges.
List of topics
- Methodologies of remote sensing in nature conservation with emphasis on multiscale
approaches - Upscaling in remote sensing by means of empirical and physical models in connection with
nature conservation phenomena - Fusion of multimodal data for nature conservation applications
- Time series of remote sensing observations in nature conservation practices
- Benchmarks of utilisation of remote sensing in nature conservation
Organisers
Markéta Potůčková, Lucie Kupková, Lucie Červená – Department of Applied Geoinformatics and
Cartography (DAGC), Faculty of Science, Charles University, Czechia
marketa.potuckova (at) natur.cuni.cz, lucie.kupkova (at) natur.cuni.cz, lucie.cervena (at) natur.cuni.cz