engleski

Color Infrared Aerial Photographs used for Prediction of Trees Health Status in Urban Forestry

Assessment of health and damage status of urban trees is very important for the planning and management in urban forestry. One of the most important tasks in that planning and management is prediction of tree removals and replacements. Color infrared (CIR) aerial photographs are an spproved tool for tree damage status assessment. They are also common for establishing urban trees cadastre and also for monitoring of urban trees. The aim of this research was to investigate the possibilities of predicting tree removals uning CIR aerial photographs, investigated and observed on a row of common horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) trees in 1982. and in 1991. The damage status assessment of 88 investigated trees was based on morphological changes on trees and tree crowns. Terrestrial investigations during August 1982. and 1991. included observations on individual trees in changes of leaf color, presence of diseases, leaf losses and drying of branches. The analysis of CIR aerial photographs obtained in August 1982. has been used to predict changes observed on ground in 1991, and analyze the correlation between the predition from CIR photographs and actual changes in tree health observed from ground 9 years later. Results have shown that CIR aerial photographs could be used in urban forestry to determine the health status of common horsechestnut trees and to predict with certainty changes in health condition of certain trees after relatively short period of time. To point out the value of such prediction from CIR aerial photographs it is worth to mention that on ground, it is not possible to predict changes in health status of common horsechestnut trees with such certainty after a certain period of time. Statistical comparison of terrestrial observations in changes in health status of investigated trees and photointerpretation results of prediction of health status have shown significant similarities.

CIR(colour infrared aerial photographs);health tree;urban forestry

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