Satellite tracks habitat changes

Satellite images are being used to help monitor changes across Wales

Space satellites could transform the way an environmental group gathers information about wildlife habitats across Wales.

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has been using data from the devices to find out about habitats and land uses.

It has teamed up with the British National Space Centre, which has a satellite passing over Wales every day.

The success of a pilot scheme in the Berwyn mountains means it can now be extended to other habitats.

The space technology could also be used to help CCW in locating habitats, as well as monitoring land use, planning fieldwork and assessing environments.

The images created give us an unparalleled opportunity to see Wales from outer-space Alan Brown, Countryside Council for Wales

"Clearly there are big advantages in using space information," said Alan Brown, remote sensing manager at the Countryside Council for Wales.

"A satellite now passes over Wales every day and records an image of the current state in a matter of minutes."

Developing these methods could lead to huge potential savings in staff time, effort and travel compared with traditional methods of surveying.

Staff on the ground would be able to concentrate on surveying areas that were unclear on satellite maps.

Space information

Mr Brown added: "The images created give us an unparalleled opportunity to see Wales from outer space, and provides a new way of revealing the dynamic changes that are taking place to our landscape."

The Berywn project is in the process of being completed and other satellite projects are now planned for other habitats in Wales.

The pilot was set up under the GIFTSS (Government Information from the Space Sector) programme which is funded by the British National Science Centre (BNSC) to promote use of information gathered from space within government departments.

Colin Hicks, director general of BNSC, said: "BNSC is pioneering the GIFTSS programme to make sure that government users are fully aware of the possibilities that come from using space information in areas such as Earth observation, satellite navigation and communications.

"We are pleased to be able to help the CCW use satellite data to effectively monitor large areas of the Welsh countryside and safeguard its wildlife."