Citizens for Copernicus: Combing Copernicus and Crowdsource Data for Forest Resources Monitoring (C4C)

The C4C project encourages the public to help monitor the changes occurring in their local forests by simply taking pictures with their phones. Utilizing modern 3D vision and AI techniques for 3D forest information extraction, as well as forest mapping with Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite images, researchers aim to compile data and make it more reliable so it can be used in new, more advanced tools for forest monitoring. Several permanent plots will be established along the gradient of forest disturbances for repeated image collection campaigns. These plots will act as the base for evaluating in situ data quality.

The potential of combining citizen science data and Sentinel images will be demonstrated through a number of test-uses involving practical implementation of the compiled data by a number of partners. The first test will focus on forest biomass mapping, where one of the project partners – the Tree.ly company – will be involved as the end user. Another test will be developed together with the Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW) to understand how citizen science data, in combination with Sentinel-2 images, can contribute to their existing workflows for tree species mapping. The last test will focus on assessing the biomass of trees outside the forest and understanding how citizen science data and Sentinel images can complement and contribute to reporting at the Austrian Environment Agency.

The C4C project will have a solid social component, helping to improve understanding and spread awareness about the added value of using Copernicus data and by demonstrating, in return, how citizen science can contribute to climate neutrality and the sustainable use of forest resources. Finally, the Austrian citizen science data component will serve as the permanent source for validation of current and future Copernicus satellite data, setting standards for developing the European and global Copernicus citizen science in situ data components.

Consortium