EFTAS has once again been involved in two major European field surveys: LUCAS and EMBAL!
The surveys for the long-term monitoring of landscape development and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes are mainly organised and carried out by EFTAS.
EMBAL – mapping in 27 countries
In 2018 the European Monitoring of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (EMBAL) was carried out as a pilot project, in which harmonised data on biodiversity was collected across various EU Member States.
In 2022, the first Europe-wide EMBAL mapping exercise was carried out using a representative sample of 3,000 landscape plots measuring 500 x 500 m. The second mapping exercise took place this year, during which the same plots were surveyed a second time to detect monitoring effects. The field surveys included, amongst other things, detailed land cover and vegetation surveys as well as photographic documentation.
EFTAS played a key role in coordinating over 90 field surveyors, who travelled from Cyprus to Finland between March and August in both years. The field surveyors were prepared for their task through training sessions; all data collection was carried out digitally and on mobile devices using an EMBAL app customised by EFTAS.
Processing of remote sensing data
The mapping is based on aerial photographs, which have already been pre-processed by EFTAS for the 3,000 plots according to specific criteria. Landscape features such as hedges, ditches, copses, as well as arable and grassland fields have already been identified and digitised using established processes. The mappers refine this data whilst in the field. They also add photographs and notes and record a wide range of parameters.
At EFTAS, all the data is currently being aggregated and stored in a structured database. The approximately 170,000 photographs supplied document the recorded parameters and are incorporated into the analysis. The results of the EMBAL process will be comprehensively analysed in a subsequent step, enabling important conclusions to be drawn across the EU regarding biodiversity and its development.
LUCAS – Mapping land cover in Europe
For the LUCAS project, EFTAS’s surveyors were also on the road in many European countries. The Statistical Office of the European Union (EUROSTAT) had once again commissioned the Münster-based company to carry out the survey.
LUCAS stands for ‘Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey’. In addition to the regular collection of land cover and land use data, soil samples are taken and grassland parameters recorded during the on-site mapping.
EFTAS has been regularly commissioned to carry out the LUCAS surveys since 2001 and, for the current survey, once again coordinated a Europe-wide network of mappers and partner companies, provided training and ran the back-office to support the field staff. Once field data collection began, internal quality control and data processing for submission to EUROSTAT’s external quality control also played a key role.
EMBAL and LUCAS are aligned with one another both spatially and in terms of content. LUCAS is a point-based survey, and this network of points also serves as the centre for the EMBAL plots. In terms of content, the nomenclatures are harmonised to enable comparison and mutual supplementation of both datasets.
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