Quickbird Satellite Image Mapping for Forest Applications in BC

Client: BC Ministry of Forests

In many areas of BC, forested areas are only easily accessible by helicopter or boat. Mapping landslides, identifying illegal logging and monitoring forest management compliance by forestry companies are some issues of interest to BC Ministry of Forests. However, they cannot monitor all forested areas of BC in person and wanted to investigate the use of high-resolution satellite imagery to help map areas of interest and to select specific areas that require in-person inspection.

McElhanney acquired QuickBird satellite imagery (61cm panchromatic and 2.44m colour) for two areas along BC's coast. We then orthorectified the images to a map projection and applied various image enhancement techniques to help us identify current landslides, incipient slides (potential slides), the extent of forestry roads, potentially identify unauthorized harvesting activities, measure the amount of coarse woody debris in cutblocks and generate 3D perspective views of the forested area. We then provided maps and images in GIS-ready format to the BC Ministry of Forests.