DIARS - Detection of Invasive plant species and Assessment of their impact on ecosystem properties through Remote Sensing

Project outcome

Scientific results

The DIARS project resulted in 18 international peer-reviewed publications and several presentations at international fora. Main results are

• The ability of airborne hyperspectral remote sensing data to generate reliable distribution maps of Campylopus introflexus, a non-native highly invasive moss species: link
• A novel sampling design tuned to IAS in order to collect presence–absence data which can be use as input for species distribution models: link
• We successfully showed that our mapping methodology for IAS can be transferred to other areas, hence limiting the collection of additional field data: link
• We demonstrated that LiDAR-derived data can be combined together with hyperspectral bands to model leaf nutrient content (nitrogen, phosphor) in the tree canopy at very fine spatial resolution (link) as well as we quantified the impact of Prunus serotina on structural and leaf chemical vegetation traits (link and link)
   

Products and services

• Fine-resolution baseline maps and scenarios of the distribution of invasive plant species at the landscape scale
• The DIARS toolbox: a free and open-access toolbox (cf. the DIARS toolbox) with:
  • Open-source codes to be used in the free and open source software (FOSS) R and GRASS GIS;
  • A new R package (cf. iSDM: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/iSDM/);
  • Guidelines;
  • Hands-on training based on real data collected throughout the DIARS project. The DIARS toolbox and its iSDM companion ensure a proper knowledge transfer that aims at engaging and educating stakeholders and end users.

Potential users

Ecologists, conservation biologists, policy makers and landscape managers across Europe.

Outreach

DIARS: images against invasive plants

DIARS: des images contre les plantes invasives

DIARS: beelden tegen invasieve planten