Wykorzystanie danych ze skaningu laserowego do pomiaru zmian zasięgu oraz struktury pionowej roślinności semi-naturalnego odcinka doliny Wisły
Application of laser scanning data in the analysis of the changes in vegetation vertical structure and changes in a semi-natural section of the Vistula valley

Summary/Abstract: Changes in vegetation cover are one of the features affecting the functioning of river valleys. Vegetation influences the geomorphological and hydrological processes within a water basin. Controlling the quality and quantity of vegetation is crucial for keeping the eco- and geosystem balance. Until now the methods applied in controlling vegetation were not efficient (field work) or were not providing enough information about the vertical structure of plant communities (i.e. analyses based on data obtained from optical remote sensing do not allow precise determination of vegetation height). The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the extent and vertical structure of the vegetation within a semi-natural section of the Vistula river valley in Krakow between 2006 and 2012 using airborne laser scanning. The application of such data in this type of research was also evaluated. The study revealed that, in spite of spite of maintenance work, the extent of vegetation cover increased during the monitoring period. Data verification indicated high precision and suitability of these data in the determination of the vegetation cover changes at the local scale. A wider access to data obtained from airborne laser scanning should soon result in the proliferation of studies conducted using airborne laser scanning which will positively impact the cost and quality of such research.

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