VDI 3793 Blatt 3:2017-09

Aerial images have proven valuable regarding the status documentation of forests and vegetation stands and the monitoring of status changes. The standard defines quality requirements for the procedure of suitable digital aerial surveys, aiming on the determination of broad information on the extent and spatial distribution of damage to forest trees and forest stands. In particular, the standard specifies the technical requirements on digital aerial cameras, the planning and conducting of aerial surveys and the acceptance and storage of aerial survey data. Only large and medium-format matrix cameras with geometric and radiometric calibration as well as line scan cameras, generally in combination with kinematic positioning, are discussed here. This standard has been compiled for experts and other persons entrusted with practical aerial-image-supported forest inventory tasks. It is applied in public and private forest management and by environmental and planning authorities as well as by forest inventory, vegetation mapping and landscape ecology service providers. Essentially, the specifications of this standard are also applicable to other wood vegetation formations other than forests, e.g. tree stands in cities or meadow orchards.