A Tool for Monitoring Agro-Environmental Measures Mapping and Monitoring Pastures:
In the Zorn valley and along the publicly owned stretch of the Ill river in Alsace, north-east France, SPOT 5 data have been evaluated to determine their usefulness in applying and monitoring agro-environmental measures designed to sustain and encourage a return to livestock farming on natural pastures.


Example of cadastral map draped over 2.5-metre colour data to generate field survey documents at 1:5000. Field survey documents must provide information such as parcel registration numbers and cadastral boundaries for administrative identification purposes. SPOT 5 as an alternative or complement to aerial photography for field survey documents



Colour data at resolutions of 2.5 metres or 5 metres enable production of field survey documents at 1:5 000 and 1:2 500 with comparable results to aerial photography. And besides their excellent geometric quality, SPOT 5 data do not call for complex mosaicking and brightness matching.

Identifying and monitoring pastures
SPOT 5 data enable better identification of pastures and can discriminate different types of grassland. SPOT 5 2.5-metre black-and-white imagery also highlights trees and hedgerows bordering fields and water courses, and makes it easier to pick out small parcels under crop within pasture areas.


Automatic classification of 2.5-metre colour data of pasture areas. Data at scales up to 1:5 000 make it easier to map these sensitive areas, even where the landscape is made up of scattered farmland parcels.

Reference: SPOT 5 Preparatory Program: Evaluation of simulated SPOT 5 data for applying and monitoring agro-environmental measures - Sertit.