TETROFOR - Remote sensing of tropical vegetations
Keywords
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ADMIRE | Partenariat pour l’Analyse des DynaMIques de REforestation et de la résilience forestière Project PI: Philippe BIRNBAUM | 2021 - 2024 |
| AFRIFIRE | Déterminants et impacts du régime des feux en Afrique tropicale Project PI: Charly FAVIER (ISEM) / Maxime REJOU-MECHAIN | 2021 - 2022 |
| ALT | Amazonian Landscapes in Transition Project PI: Jérôme CHAVE (EDB, Toulouse) | 2022 - 2025 |
| BIOMASS | BIOMASS Project PI: Ludovic VILLARD (CESBIO) | 2021 - 2022 |
| DESSFOR | Degraded Stable States in Tropical Forests Project PI: Maxime REJOU-MECHAIN | 2021 - 2024 |
| ForestScan | New technology for characterising forest structure and biomass at ‘Super Sites’ for EO cal/val across the tropics Project PI: Mat DISNEY (UCL) | 2021 - 2023 |
| Phenobs | Towards a phenology observatory in French Guiana to study climate-vegetation feedbacks and the diversity of plant strategies Project PI: Nicolas BARBIER | 2020 - 2022 |
| PROFEAAC | PROmouvoir et Formaliser l’Exploitation Artisanale du bois d’œuvre en Afrique Centrale par une approche multi-scalaire : gestion territorialisée de la ressource, gouvernance de la filière, promotion des demandes de sciages légaux Project PI: Guillaume LESCUYER (CIFOR - Cirad) | 2019 - 2023 |
| Sé2Coul | Séries Sentinel pour les couverts ligneux Project PI: Pierre COUTERON / Raffaele GAETANO (CIRAD) | 2020 - 2023 |
| Tall Trees | A 3D perspective on the effects of topography and wind on forest height and dynamics Project PI: David COOMES (Cambridge University) | 2019 - 2023 |
BADOURDINE Colette 2019 - 2023. Mapping tropical forest diversity from multi- and hyper-spectral imagery. Ecole doctorale : GAIA / Université de Montpellier. Dir : PELISSIER Raphaël / Co-dir. : VINCENT Grégoire
BALL James 2019 - 2023. Utilisation de la télédétection pour comprendre la phénologie foliaire et la productivité des forêts tropicales. Ecole doctorale : University of Cambridge / University of Cambridge. Dir : COOMES David / Co-dir. : VINCENT Grégoire
MOFACK Gislain 2018 - 2022. Ses recherches portent sur la prise en compte des interactions et de la plasticité phénotypique des arbres dans l'estimation de la biomasse et du stock de carbone, à l'aide de l'outil LiDAR terrestre.. Ecole doctorale : Sciences de la Vie, Santé et Environnement / Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroun. Dir : COUTERON Pierre / Co-dir. : SONKE Bonaventure
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
- 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).