Imagery for Forest R&D General requirements –Sub-crown spatial resolution –Fine spectral resolution (~10nm FWHM) –Season –Image collection coincident with field data collection –Accurate ground control and radiometric corrections

Potential NAFE Projects Three objectives: 1.Forest water use 2.Productivity prediction – catchment-scale soil water holding capacity 3.The condition of crowns that are severely affected by agents that reduce crown visibility in images

Forestry: Water Use Forest water use an important issue –Post fire –Pasture to plantations –Effects on streamflow/groundwater Canopy transpiration rate High resolution thermal imagery - midday Field site near Mt.Gambier (SA) –Blue gum (E.globulus) –Calibrate models to sap flow sensor data Calibration of imagery?

Forestry: Productivity Prediction Plantation productivity prediction at catchment scale –Current work focuses on recharge and discharge areas, break of slope –Maximum benefit requires understanding of catchment- specific hydrological processes Images to calibrate/validate catchment-scale soil water holding capacity prediction models –Point samples and temporal prediction Imagery requirements – moderate resolution radar? Subcatchments of the S.W. Goulburn-Broken

Forestry: Invisible Crowns Several damaging agents increase crown transparency Essigella californica aphid defoliates crowns –Reduces crown visibility Increased light penetration causes higher vigour of understorey vegetation –Pixels over the most affected trees have high NIR High resolution lidar and hyperspectral imagery Field study area in Carabost, southern NSW (P.radiata).