We invite you to attend the upcoming, open webinar series: Forest Mapping and Monitoring with SAR Data
This series will be delivered in both English and Spanish. Please see the training details and registration information below. We would be happy to have you join us!
Relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
Course Dates: May 12, 14, 19, 21, 2020
Times and Registration Information:
English Session: 11:00-13:00 EDT (UTC-4): https://go.nasa.gov/3a0gxg9
Spanish Session: 14:00-16:00 EDT (UTC-4): https://go.nasa.gov/2JvVqXj
Description: Measurements of forest cover and change are vital to understanding the global carbon cycle and the contribution of forests to carbon sequestration. Many nations are engaged in international agreements, such as the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) initiative, which includes tracking annual deforestation rates and developing early warning systems of forest loss. Remote sensing data are integral to data collection for these metrics, however, the use of optical remote sensing for monitoring forest health can be challenging in tropical, cloud-prone regions.
Radar remote sensing overcomes these challenges because of its ability to “see” the surface through clouds or regardless of day or night conditions. In addition, the radar signal can penetrate through the vegetation canopy and provide information relevant to structure and density.
This advanced webinar series will introduce participants to 1.) SAR time series analysis of forest change using Google Earth Engine (GEE), 2.) land cover classification with radar and optical data with GEE, 3.) mapping mangroves with SAR, and 4.) forest stand height estimation with SAR. Each training will include a theoretical portion describing the use of SAR for landcover mapping as related to the focus of the session followed by a demonstration that will show participants how to access, download, and analyze SAR data for forest mapping and monitoring. These demonstrations will use freely-available, open-source data and software.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this training, attendees will be able to:
Interpret radar data for forest mapping
Understand how radar data can be applied to land cover mapping
Become familiar with open source tools used to analyze radar data
Conduct a land cover classification with radar and optical data
Map mangrove forests with radar data
Understand how forest stand height can be mapped using radar data
Apply SAR time-series analysis to map forest change
Learn about upcoming radar missions at NASA
Course Format:
Four parts with sessions offered in English and Spanish
Four exercises
One Google Form homework
We hope you can join us!
Brock Blevins
Training Coordinator
Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI)
NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET)
402-578-7313
brock.blevins@nasa.gov
nasa.arset@gmail.com