A comparative evaluation of video remote sensing and field survey for revegetation monitoring of a pipeline route

At present, restoration monitoring of pipeline routes is based mainly on field sampling. The `integrated mappingʹ approach has received only limited attention from the field ecologist. The reason for this could be the largely undemonstrated value of video for the field ecologist as a monitoring tool for a corridor target, the complexity of analysing the video and the lack of research on comparative evaluation of video surveys with the field approach. An exhaustive and realistic comparison of the two techniques was conducted, based on time-lapse video data and field survey data. Both techniques have been investigated for a variety of aspects: synoptic information, ground detail and information adequacy for customer requirement. The video imagery was able to isolate the major plant communities of a narrow pipeline corridor with reliable spatial precision. Although field surveys have already gained worldwide recognition by plant ecologists as a typical method of pipeline corridor monitoring, this approach did not provide a level of information that is either scientifically reliable or economically feasible in terms of corridor site management (e.g. remedial field works). In conclusion, it is suggested that an integrated mapping approach, using aerial video in combination with supplementary ground data, can meet the requirements for monitoring revegetation of a pipeline route.