Scholarly record

MULTI-SOURCE GEOMATIC DATA FUSION FOR WETLAND MONITORING: A CASE STUDY OF THE MARAMURES MOUNTAINS NATURAL PARK

Adrian Traian Radulescu, Gheorghe Radulescu, Sanda Marioara Nas, Dorel Gusat, Corina Michaela Radulescu

Abstract

This research addresses the design, integration, and validation of a complex methodology for wetland monitoring, using as case studies two peat bogs located in the Maramures Mountains Natural Park, Romania. The study is part of a larger research effort concerning the assessment of the current ecological status of internationally important wetlands in the trans-Carpathian region of Romania, Ukraine, and Slovakia, through the development of an integrated monitoring system based on advanced geomatic technologies. This system, integrated into a unique data platform, represents a novel monitoring model that generates innovative conservation strategies for these areas.Wetlands represent transitional ecosystems between terrestrial and aquatic environments, characterized by remarkable biodiversity and essential ecological functions. The Maramures Mountains Natural Park (MMNP) hosts an impressive variety of such habitats, from active peat bogs and oligotrophic marshes to glacial lakes and riparian zones along watercourses. Peat bogs constitute one of the most valuable and sensitive categories of wetlands within the MMNP. These are ecosystems characterized by the slow accumulation of peat – partially decomposed organic matter – under conditions of water excess, high acidity, and oxygen deficit.Modern monitoring of peat bogs cannot be efficiently accomplished using a single method. Each technology provides complementary information: UAV – very high resolution, ideal for fine details and local mapping; LiDAR – high topographic precision, vegetation penetration, 3D models; Satellite – broad coverage, continuous temporal monitoring, free data; Ground measurements – “ground truth”, indispensable for calibration and validation. The integration of these data into an active and permanently updated GIS is essential for a correct assessment of ecosystem status. For the effective monitoring of these fragile ecosystems, this paper analyzes modern geomatic technologies: satellite remote sensing (Landsat 8, Sentinel-2) and UAV equipped with photogrammetric camera and LiDAR.Interim results indicate that the fusion of multispectral imagery with LiDAR data and GNSS control points significantly increases the accuracy of habitat type classification and reduces measurement uncertainty. This enables detailed mapping of peat bog boundaries, biomass, carbon stocks, and degradation levels. The developed model is replicable for other wetlands of international importance in the Carpathian region. Through the active conservation of peat bogs in the Maramures Mountains Natural Park, this research contributes to biodiversity protection, maintenance of water resources, climate change mitigation, and the support of traditional lifestyles in harmony with the natural environment. The obtained results can underpin an early warning system concerning the risks of mountain peat bog degradation

Publication details

Back to publication list