ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF BIG FOREST-FIRES FROM SPACE SCANNER IMAGES

The automation of space scanner image processing is considered with a view to identifying, interpreting, and mapping the effects of big fore st fires by active interaction with a digital cartographic database. A specific technology is proposed for recognizing the contours of fores t slashes on digital space images, mapping them, and performing a prel iminary estimate of the direct damage caused by the fire. There are de tailed descriptions of original procedures for image processing, ident ifying the contours of slashes, performing their geometric correction and immersion in a cartographic environment, creating a digital map an d updating it according to interpreted space images.