Spatio-temporal landscape analysis in mountainous terrain by means of small format photography: a methodological approach

A method is presented in order to georectify high-oblique terrestrial images of high mountainous terrain taken by means of small-format camera. Using the distinct topographic situation of the study area located in a small alpine valley, an automatic camera has been mounted on the opposing hill slope providing daily photographs of the area of interest. To use the data in a geographic information system (GIS) a specific georectification method (JUKE method) was developed employing a digital elevation model (DEM), several reference and ground control points (GCPs), and the focal length of the lens. The method was useful for single-stage image rectification but was also applied successfully on pre-analyzed time-series images (“summary” images). Hence, the procedure enables the analysis of detailed, dynamic landscape ecological processes. Accuracy was mainly a measure of the quality of the GCPs, which were difficult to define in this remote area. The relatively economic data capturing and transforming procedure makes the method interesting for various applied disciplines in order to gain detailed spatio-temporal data. This method might be of considerable benefit, particularly in mountainous terrain where it is often difficult to capture continuous spatio-temporal information