Integrating satellite observations into environmental accounts

Environmental accounts can help to measure and protect our natural resources but must be detailed, frequent and comprehensive. Field data alone are not enough for this unless they can be integrated with satellite observations into biophysical models. This project makes use of the latest advances in satellite data analysis and model-data fusion to incorporate three valuable long-term satellite land cover data records into sub-accounts for biomass carbon, water and ecosystem integrity for each year since 1990. We will work with end users to cast these annual accounts into a useful form.

This project was funded through an Australian Research Council Linkage Scheme grant (LP130100789) with support from the Bureau of Meteorology. This project has been completed, and was the foundation for our ongoing work in environmental reporting and accounting through “Australia’s Environment” and other projects.