Remote Sensing Monitoring on the Territory of the Volga Carbon Polygon (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia)

Abstract

Remote sensing technology and geographic information systems allow the assessment of terrestrial carbon stocks in large areas. The article considers the procedure of remote monitoring organization in the forest and water parts of the Volga Carbon polygon (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia). The main purpose of the article is to present the structure of remote monitoring of the polygon, show the results of the first year of remote research, and discuss the need to use other remote sensing methods. This study reviews and highlights the advantages and limitations of various remote sensing methods and sensors, including optical, multispectral, radar, and lidar, which are widely used for above-ground biomass (AGB) and carbon stocks (CS) estimation. The first results of field studies by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Volga Carbon polygon are presented: orthophotomaps, digital terrain and relief models, bathymetric map and multispectral image time-series. Different remote sensing methods from echolocation to the multispectral survey are used, and the most optimal remote sensing data and processing methods are determined. For the first time for the Republic of Tatarstan, an integrated carbon balance monitoring system has been developed.