co-ordinator :MAP/UNEP
In the framework of the MAP/UNEP's (Mediterranean Action Plan/United Nations Environment Programme) activities and objectives, the CTM ERS/RAC (Centro di Telerilevamento Mediterraneo - Regional Activity Center for Environment Remote Sensing of the MAP/UNEP) based in Palermo (Italy) has conceived the DAPHNE project - in cooperation with the Telespazio S.p.A. (Italy)- aiming at contributing to achieve a better knowledge of the vegetation conditions and changes in the whole Mediterranean Region, and at building up a "system" based on the use of advanced techniques - as remote sensing - able to supply continuously updated information.
As a matter of fact, the project provides a spatial and temporal phytoclimatic classification of the vegetation in the Mediterranean region, based on the analysis of multi-annual series of the Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from daily NOAA/AVHRR images with a spatial resolution of 1,1 km. The monthly NDVI value relevant to each pixel is obtained through the Maximum Value Composite (MVC) method.
In the middle Mediterranean Region (Italy, Northern Tunisia, Ex-Yugoslavia and Albania) the analysis and classification is made relying on a multitemporal series (1985 - 1993) of NDVI and an attempt at validating this classification through ground surveys and comparison with other existing vegetation/land use maps. 30 vegetation classes have been identified whose spatial distribution shows the presence of a South-North gradient corresponding to the shift of the maximum vegetative activity from the winter period at South, to the summertime at North. In the whole Mediterranean region, the classification is based on a one-year NDVI data (November 1992 - October 1993). In this case, 39 different vegetation classes have been identified.
Both classifications have been made according to a Fourier analysis of the annual course of the Vegetation Index.
contact :
Ms Monique Viel
Centro di Telerilevamento Mediterraneo - Regional Activity
Center for Environment Remote Sensing ERS/RAC of MAP/UNEP
2, via G. Giusti
90144 Palermo
ITALY
Tel: + 39 091342368
Fax: + 39 091308512
monique.viel@ctmnet.it
web site :