Advances in remote sensing technologies for forest surveys and management

Canadian forest management has had a long history of developing and implementing remote sensing technology and is a major user of remote sensing. Despite difficulties in developing and implementing new digital remote sensing techniques, several key developments in Canadian forest management and in remote sensing and computer technology make the development and implementation of new remote sensing techniques at this time feasible and appropriate. Integration of different remote sensing technologies, remote sensing data with other information sources through geographic information systems, and remote sensing interpretations with forest management systems and practices are critical. Current capabilities and new advances in remote sensing technology for forest survey (excluding forest damage assessment) are discussed. Satellite imagery is a cost-effective tool for broad forest type mapping. New satellite systems improve this capability, but their major impact will be in inventories for new clear-cut and burned areas. Advances in linear array imager technology and lidar systems may lead to development of an end to end inventory mapping system. This system would provide an alternative to aerial photography and current mapping methods and could revolutionize the way forests are inventoried. Imaging spectrometry is a new technology with applications in damage assessment, but as yet has limited potential for assisting in other forest surveys. Spaceborne imaging radar systems are being developed for the 1990s. These systems can produce imagery under cloudy conditions. Their major impact on forestry will be to provide an alternative to visible-infrared satellite data for inventory update.