TETROFOR - Remote sensing of tropical vegetations

Keywords
LiDAR
THR images
Time series
Drone
Tropical rainforests
Mangroves
Savanas

To characterise the role of natural tropical vegetation as a reservoir of biodiversity and an essential component in the regulation of biogeochemical (water, carbon) and energy cycles on a global scale.

This theme brings together research actions that implement remote sensing tools and ad hoc methodological developments.
Remote sensing approaches are generally based on the use of passive or active signals of high resolution (temporal, spatial or spectral). LiDAR (terrestrial or airborne) plays a predominant role among these tools, thanks to the unique link it establishes between tree architecture and stand organisation, as well as its potential for quantifying carbon acquisition and allocation. Our approaches are also based on (i) mapping of tropical forests at different scales (local, regional) using multi-sensor, multi-temporal and multi-spatial resolution approaches, (ii) canopy modelling (based on archi-FSPM models or 3D digitisation) and (iii) modelling of radiative transfer, both from a functional (photosynthesis, allocation, etc.) and instrumental (sensor sensitivity, cal/val) perspective.

We are involved in research projects, impact studies, development studies, or sensitivity studies, through services for public or private partners. This involves producing vegetation maps or providing field data or compatible population models for radiative transfer modelling. Our main projects are in Central Africa (LMI Dycofac) and in French Guiana (Labex CEBA) but also in New Caledonia, India and Thailand. Access to ground truth data relies on plot networks developed in partnership with local institutions. We regularly mobilise close remote sensing equipment (6 drones, 5 qualified pilots, 3 TLS scanners, 1 UAV-LS scanner, DGNSS systems), a spectroradiometer, canopy climbing equipment and trained climbers. We also have an archive of airborne and/or satellite images in our regions of intervention allowing us to develop analyses of cover dynamics.

Acronym Title Duration
ADMIREPartenariat pour l’Analyse des DynaMIques de REforestation et de la résilience forestière
Project PI: Philippe BIRNBAUM 
2021 - 2024
ALTAmazonian Landscapes in Transition
Project PI: Jérôme CHAVE (EDB, Toulouse)  
2022 - 2025
Carto Veg NHPC Phase 2Suivi de la dynamique du couvert végétal et des compensations du barrage de Nachtigal
Project PI: Nicolas BARBIER 
2022 - 2026
CoForFuncToward a biome-scale monitoring of the COngo basin FORest FUNCtional composition
Project PI: Raphaël PELISSIER 
2024 - 2027
DESSFORDegraded Stable States in Tropical Forests
Project PI: Maxime REJOU-MECHAIN 
2021 - 2024
IFIHSAInventaires forestriers par imagerie hyperspectrale aéroportée
Project PI: Olivier BRUNAUX (ONF)  
2023 - 2024
OFVIOne Forest Vision Initiative
Project PI: Jean-François SOUSSANA (INRAE)  
2023 - 2027
PhenobsTowards a phenology observatory in French Guiana to study climate-vegetation feedbacks and the diversity of plant strategies
Project PI: Nicolas BARBIER 
2020 - 2024
RIFTSoutien aux infrastructures, tours de Flux
Project PI: Jérôme DEMARTY (IRD)  
2024 - 2027
TROPECOSBilans de carbone des écosystèmes côtiers tropicaux dans l’Anthropocène
Project PI: Gwenaël ABRIL (CNRS)  
2023 - 2027

AUBERT Clément 2024 - 2024. Evaluer les méthodes d'observation aériennes des crocodilidés et les modalités de conservation par les communautés locales. Ecole doctorale : GAIA / Université de Montpellier. Dir : COUTERON Pierre

BADOUARD Vincyane 2022 - 2024. Déterminants de la distribution spatiale des arbres du sous-étage en forêts tropicales. Ecole doctorale : GAIA / Université de Montpellier. Dir : VINCENT Grégoire / Co-dir. : MARCON Eric

BAI Yuchen 2023 - 2024. Modèles Bayésiens de dépendances spatiales et réseaux de neurones pour la discrimination feuilles / bois appliquées à l'estimation de densité foliaire par LiDAR. Ecole doctorale : Mathématiques, Sciences et Technologies de l'Information, Informatique (MSTII) - ED 217 / Université de Grenoble. Dir : DURAND Jean-Baptiste / Co-dir. : VINCENT Grégoire

PRIEUR Colin 2022 - 2025. Télédétection hyperspectrale pour l’exploitation soutenable des forêts tropicales: quand la modélisation physique rencontre l'apprentissage profond.. Ecole doctorale : GAIA / Université de Montpellier. Dir : VINCENT Grégoire / Co-dir. : CHANUSSOT jocelyn

YANG Junliu 2023 - 2027. Utilisation de lidar aéroporté pour cartographier l'évolution de la force de puits de carbone des forêts tropicales. Ecole doctorale : GAIA / Université de Montpellier. Dir : VINCENT Grégoire

  • JB Feret (Tetis MPL),
  • D Coomes (Cambridge U),
  • S Saatchi (NASA JPL),
  • R Valbuena (Wales University),
  • J Chanussot (GIPSA Grenoble),
  • M Disney (UCL),
  • V Deblauwe (CBI),
  • B Sonké (LaboSYstE, ENS-Univ Yaoundé I),
  • JP Gastellu Etchegorry, T Le Toan (Cesbio),
  • H Poilvé (Airbus DS),
  • M Herold (WUR),
  • T Stévart (MBG),
  • S Gourlet Fleury, E Forni (CIRAD Forêts et Sociétés).