Our research preliminary focus on the development of advanced image processing techniques including state-of-the art (i) classification methods, (ii) fusion of X-band + C-Band as well as multispectral + SAR data, and (iii) analysis of SAR time series. Besides the methodological development, the projects aims on the generation of recent and historic land cover for study sites in the Brazilian Amazon. (PI: B. Waske, funding: BMWi/DLR FKZ 50 EE 1255)

With the upcoming series of Sentinel satellites, a new generation of optical and radar based earth observations will be available to describe environmental processes and complement measurements from existing optical sensor systems, such as  ETM+, OLI or radar systmes like ERS-1/2, Envisat ASAR or TerraSAR-X.

SenseCarbon develops methods for improved mapping of REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) relevant LUCC processes, as for example deforestation, afforestation, succession, logging or forest degradation. The project has the goal to use Sentinel-like remote sensing data and explore the advantages of synergetic use of optical- and SAR sensors, as well as of data with different spatial and temporal-resolutions, for monitoring land use and land cover change (LUCC) over space and time. Besides the complementary utilization of SAR and optical data, the synergetic use of X- and C-Band data is foreseen.

The regional focus of SenseCarbon is the Brazilian Legal Amazon, whose forests were subject of dramatic changes during the last 30 years, mainly caused by deforestation and agricultural expansion. Emphasis lies on two study sites: 1) border region Para/Mato Grosso; 2) Novo Progresso along BR-163. Both provide sufficient data coverage as well as promising LUCC dynamics caused by large-scale deforestation. Additional study sites are selected for detailed analysis.

In summary, our research preliminary focus on the development of advanced image processing techniques including state-of-the art (i) classification methods, (ii) fusion of X-band + C-Band as well as multispectral + SAR data, and (iii) analysis of SAR time series. Besides the methodological development, the projects aims on the generation of recent and historic land cover for study sites in the Brazilian Amazon.

SenseCarbon project area (http://www.geographie.hu-berlin.de/labs/geomatics/projects-en/sensecarbon)

Project Duration: 05/2013 - 04/2016

Principal Investigator: Björn Waske

Projects staff: Ron Hagensieker

Project partners:

Patrick Griffiths, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Geomatics Lab

Patrick Hostert, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Geomatics Lab

Benjamin Jakimow, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Geomatics Lab

Funding: German Aerospace Centre (DLR) - Project Management Agency (Gefördert durch die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Zuwendungsgeber: Raumfahrt-Agentur des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. mit Mitteln des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Technologie (BMWi) aufgrund eines Beschlusses des Deutschen Bundestages unter dem Förderkennzeichen 50 EE 1255).