Windthrow Mapping with Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope in Triglav National Park: A Regional Case Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Extreme weather increasingly damages forest ecosystems, and affected areas are often remote or inaccessible, limiting field surveys. In such contexts, remote sensing can complement damage assessment. This study presents a regional case study evaluating established multi-temporal optical change detection for windthrow mapping in Triglav National Park (Slovenia) using Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope imagery. Bitemporal index differencing and fixed thresholds were applied, with accuracy quantified via a block bootstrap to account for spatial autocorrelation. Within-sample overall accuracy was 69.2% (95% CI: 67.4–71.2%) for Sentinel-2 and 72.9% (95% CI: 71.2–74.6%) for PlanetScope. Detection was strongly size-dependent: gaps greater than 0.5 ha were consistently detected, whereas gaps smaller than 0.1 ha were frequently omitted, particularly with Sentinel-2. Linking satellite-derived change maps with forest stand data enabled parcel-level estimates of damaged timber volume; this linkage was examined on a small, non-probability set of parcels and is therefore preliminary. We position the work strictly as a case study documenting within-sample performance in alpine terrain. Broader generalisation will require probability-based validation across additional events and forest types, and wider access to parcel-level official records.
Source: Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.3390/rs17213568
Authors: Matej Zupan, Krištof Oštir, Ana Potočnik Buhvald
Institution: University of Ljubljana
Language: English
Subfield: Media Technology
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W4415625813