Mapping of Bell Miner Associated Dieback in the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage Area

Specifications

• Client: NPRSR (Qld Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing)
• Scope:

  Aerial photo interpretation of native forest condition to map Bell Miner Associated Dieback (BMAD) in the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage Area (~100,000 ha) by digital stereoscopic air-photo interpretation and ground truthing.

• Challenge:

  Accurate mapping of spatial variation in forest condition is critcal to implementation of management interventions (controlled burning). Air photo interpretation is subject to image quality and scoring bias, while field sampling intensity is limited by the very large areas (˜100,000 ha) and access.

• Solution:

  In close collaboration with National Parks staff, Verterra further developed and refined an aerial survey methodology that enabled 32% of the project area (˜32,000 ha), including many inaccessible areas, to be sampled and assessed in a period of just 10 days. In combination with high level spatial data analysis, Verterra was able to deliver a high resolution, high accuracy mapping to inform effective management, together with an approach that can be implemented and continually updated by the client's staff.

• Benefit to Client:

  The project will provide the client with the first broad scale interpretation of forest condition to support and prioritise fire management in order to arrest or prevent forest decline.

• Market Sector: Environment and Natural Resources
• Capabilities:
  • Native Forest Management
  • Environmental surveys, benchmarking and biodiversity assessment
  • Spatial data and Geographic information systems
  • Natural resource management and environmental economics
• Location: Queensland
• Year: 2012 - 2013