New information technology for phytocenoses regional monitoring using remote sensing data

A new information technology for plant communities monitoring using remote sensing data, oriented for application at the regional level, is proposed. The technology is based on maintaining a base of reference polygons, accumulating data on the boundaries of specific plant communities and related semantic information. This database provides a source of verified and up-to-date information for solving problems of rational nature management. To expand the database of reference polygons, two algorithms for finding new ones are presented: a reliable algorithm (analyzing several growing seasons) and an urgent algorithm (based on the current growing season). The advantage of the proposed system is the integration of data storage, processing, and analysis, which enables the automation of the creation of new and the monitoring of existing polygons, as well as the solution of a wide range of problems based on remote sensing data and artificial intelligence algorithms. Practical tasks in studying of phytocenoses in the Samara Region, implemented using the proposed monitoring technology, are considered: updating forest inventory data, monitoring the status of a rare reintroduced species (Paeonia Tenuifolia), searching for new reference polygons across a vast territory of several steppe protected areas, and searching for areas of presence of an invasive plant species (Elaeagnus angustifolia L).