Every day approximately 130 ha of soil and vegetation are sealed in Germany and converted into roads, traffic and urban development areas, a surface area which is equivalent to 130 football fields per day. During the last years, this development caused a continual loss near-natural spaces and structure-providing landscape elements. The compilation of exhaustive and statistically sound data and the persistent observation (monitoring) of landscape changes in regular time intervals is required in order to maintain our cultural landscape and guarantee the sustainable use of our natural resources.

In environment and nature conservation, the term "monitoring" refers to specific survey and analysis methods, in the sense of a permanent or long-term observation projected into the future. Monitoring procedures which apply to a large number of environmental media already exist, for example, monitoring the quality of water or the continuous measurement of air pollution. However, the observation of landscape development and the establishment of respective monitoring methods in Europe are still at their beginning. Commissioned by the European Ministry of the Environment, Hansa Luftbild is currently developing a comprehensive procedure for landscape monitoring on the basis of remote sensing and geo information system applications.

The objective of this multi-annual project is to analyze the changes in land use and the changes of the landscape image. Special attention is given to both the large-scale structural landscape change and the loss of ecologically valuable small structures, such as linear stretches of woodland.

In 1999, the habitat types in the approximately 2,600 km² large project area were mapped based on CIR aerial photographs, covering as much surface as possible. In addition, an already existing habitat map from 1988 was analyzed and evaluated including the application of geo information systems. Based on historic b/w aerial photographs from the 60s, we were also able to produce a detailed map of the habitat and land-use structures of that time.

With the aid of geo information systems (ArcGIS, ArcINFO), polygon overlays, exact area balances and analyses of the three time sections were made. The statistical preparation of the data from the years 1963, 1988 and 1999, and the demonstration of changes in landscape and land-use structures were done in text form and cartographically. It is now planned to make the data available in an internet-based system (ArcIMS) and to implement them into a comprehensive environmental information system. Concept and realization of the project, establishing the geodata infrastructure and preparation of the data via internet (ArcIMS) are being pursued at Hansa Luftbild. The projects lays the methodological foundations for the development and continuance of a nationwide monitoring system on the level of habitats.