Identifying valuable living environments from high-resolution satellite images – process development supporting the planning of the use of natural resources
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The aim of the project was to develop a process that would enable the identification of valuable living environments of the border area in order to plan the use of their natural resources.

Main activities

• to exploit high-resolution satellite images and, for the first time, high-resolution aerial photographs obtained by flying a model aeroplane (UAV) supplied with an autopilot and acquired for the project.

Achievements

The project developed a procedure that enables a preliminary identification of valuable living environments using high-resolution satellite and aerial images. The project exploited high-resolution satellite images and, for the first time, high-resolution aerial photographs obtained by flying a model aeroplane (UAV) supplied with an autopilot and acquired for the project. Along with high-resolution satellite and aerial images, extensive terrain test pieces were collected and used from 176 test areas both in North Karelia and in the areas surrounding Suojärvi and Muezersky in Russian Karelia. The project had access to terrain material covering some of the researched areas, precise photographs and high-resolution satellite imagery of varying precisions. As a result of the project, it can be stated that potentially valuable living environments can be identified with high resolution images and hence concentrate on these areas in fieldwork, which produces significant cost efficiency. The results of the project offer possibilities to develop environmental surveillance cost-effectively.