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Aerial detection surveys in the United States

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Aerial detection surveys, also known as aerial sketchmapping, is a remote sensing technique of observing forest change events from an aircraft and documenting them manually onto a map. Data from aerial surveys have become an important component of the Forest Health Monitoring, a national program designed to determine the status, changes, and trends in indicators of forest condition. Aerial surveys are an effective and economical means of monitoring and mapping insect, disease and other forest disturbances. Information from aerial surveys can be considered the first stage in a multi-stage or multi-phase sampling design. Aerial skecthmap surveys have been utilized in the United States since the 1950s. Today, USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry, Forest Health Protection, together with other federal, state, and county cooperators conducts annual sketchmap surveys across all land ownerships. In 2002, approximately one million square miles were surveyed in the United States alone. Traditionally, forest damage has been sketchmapped on USGS base paper maps. Recently, the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team has developed a Digital Aerial Sketch Mapping system which automates this process allowing users to digitize polygons directly onto a touch-screen linked to a Global Positioning Unit (GPS) unit and computer or onto a tablet PC with an integrated GPS.

Parent Publication

Keywords

monitoring, assessment, sustainability, Western Hemisphere, sustainable management, ecosystem resources, aerial detection surveys, aerial sketchmapping, remote sensing

Citation

Johnson, E. W.; Wittwer, D. 2006. Aerial detection surveys in the United States. In: Aguirre-Bravo, C.; Pellicane, Patrick J.; Burns, Denver P.; and Draggan, Sidney, Eds. 2006. Monitoring Science and Technology Symposium: Unifying Knowledge for Sustainability in the Western Hemisphere Proceedings RMRS-P-42CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 809-811
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/26577