The Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory

Background

The Environmental Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory (ERSAL) is located in the Department of Forest Resources within the College of Forestry at Oregon State University.

ERSAL scientists, forestry faculty, graduate students, colleagues at Oregon State University, and colleagues in state and federal agencies conduct a variety of programs that integrate remote sensing and related technologies with geographic information systems (GIS).

"Remote sensing" refers to the acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation of reflected and emitted radiation from targets of interest, usually features on the surface of the earth: for example, plants, soil, minerals, and water. At ERSAL, data acquired from detectors mounted in satellites, aircraft, and field instruments are used to study the spectral properties of vegetation-soil systems. information regarding these properties is then used to develop techniques for detecting, classifying, mapping, and quantifying vegetation cover and the condition of vegetation.

ERSAL houses a comprehensive reference library of remote sensing and GIS literature and a film library consisting of NASA-flown aerial photography over Oregon, and SPOT, Landsat, and AVHRR imagery.

Image processing and GIS analysis are performed with spatial analysis software using computer work stations and microcomputers. Other facilities include tape and optical disk drives, digitizers, color printers, and high resolution graphics systems.

Research Program

The research objective of ERSAL is to develop and apply remote sensing and GIS technology for the study of forestry and related natural resource problems. Example topics include: forest stand condition analysis, landscape ecology, forest fire analysis, spotted owl habitat, forest landscape patterns, wildlife habitat and biodiversity analysis for ecosystem management. Recent studies include projects sponsored by NASA, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Aspen Project combines remote sensing with field surveys to compare the status of aspen on Yellowstone National Parks' (YNP) northern range with adjacent areas in the Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests.

Related research applications with the Forest Resources Department:

FPL Laboratory

The Wolves in Nature Project - http://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/wolves/
The purpose here is to investigate the role of a top predator, the gray wolf (Canis Lupus), in structuring ecological communities.

The Lewis & Clark Project - http://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/lewis&clark/
Wildlife Along the Lewis & Clark Trail is one of the most frequently visited pages in our College of Forestry.

Dr. Ripple's Homepage - http://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/cof/fr/facultypages/ripple.php

GIS map layers of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest showing:

soils

digital elevation model

land management status

sun incidence