Detection of Areas of the Anthropogenically Transformed Natural Environment Based on a Comprehensive Analysis of Multiseasonal Multispectral Survey

Abstract

A comprehensive analysis of multispectral data obtained in different growing periods makes it possible to reconstruct the current state of the anthropogenically transformed natural environment and identify areas of historical nature management. Ambiguous displaying of secondary succession of forests requires comparison of changes in the spectral features of vegetation and features of the landscape objects texture on multiseason images. The methodological basis of such studies is an algorithm of multispectral data processing adapted to apply Haralick’s textural features at the feature extraction stage. Joint segmentation of multiseasonal multispectral images smooths out local and less significant changes in the texture of landscape objects, which makes it possible to more clearly demonstrate the general trends in the distribution of vegetation. The survey area included a fragment of the ironworks district of the Pudemsky ironworks, where timber and firewood were cut down for production needs in the first half of the 19th century. The segmented image demonstrates the fundamental differences between the vegetation cover of the western and eastern parts of the survey area (the site of historical cutting areas and the part of the ironworks district that was not subject to intense anthropogenic impact).