The Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) is a transdisciplinary research institute that has expertise in applying remote sensing to manage natural resources and the environment. IES operates an Airborne Surveillance and Environmental Monitoring System called ARSENAL that uses various sensors to collect high quality spectral data on ecosystems, landscapes, water resources and other areas. IES conducts projects in areas such as mapping habitats, monitoring the marine environment, detecting oil spills and modeling the impacts of future satellites.

1. Address: «Lidlauks», Priekuļi Parish, Priekuļi County, LV-4101
Tel.: +371 64127951
Mob. tel.: + 371 26425688
E-mail: lidlauks@videsinstituts.lv
www.videsinstituts.lv
Time-lapse of the Gauja River flow

2. Science Institutes – Higher Education – NGO – Public Sector
Partnership Network
Scope of the institute:
Science – Technologies – Art – Applied Environmental Solutions

3. Institute for Environmental Solutions
Digital Surface Model of the Burtnieki Lake
IES is transdisciplinary research institute
Has strong expertise in the application of advanced
remote sensing for management of natural resources
and environment
Ecosystem
processes
Cultural heritage
Wild animal
ecology
Forest
management
Water resources Biodiversity
Landscape
ecology
Land use/
Land cover

4. Institute for Environmental Solutions
LIDAR
laser
scanner
UVC
sensor
280-375
nm
SWIR
sensor
950-2450
nm
MWIR
sensor
3000-5000
nm
High
resolution
RGB
sensor
LWIR
sensor
8000-12000
nm
IR
sensor
3700-4800
nm
VIS-NIR
sensor
380-1050
nm
100 km²/h 6 – 8h400kg 400-500m
IES has developed a unique Airborne Surveillance and
Environmental Monitoring System ARSENAL
YL-FBI

5. Institute for Environmental Solutions
Spectral range of
Airborne Surveillance and Environmental Monitoring System
ARSENAL
BeesHumanSnakes

6. YL-FBI
Freshwater
Terrestrial
Marine
Ecosystem
structure
Chemical
composition
Spatial
characteristics
ARSENAL’s
sensors provide
a high quality
data of:

7. Institute for Environmental Solutions
Hyperspectral Data Use for the Study of Land
R=1632nm; G=1242nm; B=1018nm R=845nm; G=550nm; B=675nm R=650nm; G=550nm; B=465nm

8. Institute for Environmental Solutions
Hyperspectral Data Use for the Study of the Baltic Sea
R=744nm; G=712nm; B=666nm R=650nm; G=560nm; B=485nm

9. Fighting
poaching Alternative
use of
grassland
biomass
Marine
monitoring
Oil spill
detection
Simulation of
the future
satelites
Mapping of
valuable
grasslands
Modelling of
corn-crake
habitats
Mapping
habitats of
the EU
importance
Restoring the
hydrological
regime
Cultural
heritage
P R O J E C T S
Invasive
species
detection
Survey of fish
migration
Innovative
approach for
lake survey
Restoration
of habitats in
coastal lakes
Forest habitat
restoration

10. PECS: Simulation of Future Satellites of
European Space Agency
Sentinel – 2: improved classification
of land use/ land cover;
Sentinel – 3: analysis of the Baltic
Sea watersImage: ESA

11. PECS: Simulation of Future Satellites of
European Space Agency
Projects
The use of airborne remote
sensing data for evaluation of
grassland biomass.

12. «Balex Delta 2014» Training for Oil Spill Detection in
the Baltic Sea
Parameters of
pollution object:
~85m2
Lenght
65m
Wide ~ 3m
Coverage 30%

13. Training for Oil Spill Detection in the Baltic Sea.
Visible colour image Thermal image Temperature imageSpectral data image

14. Innovative Approaches for Marine Biodiversity
Monitoring.
Chlorophyll concentration assessment in
the Baltic Sea

15. Sea is a Constantly Changing Ecosystem.
Measuring the same region before and after 1h 20min chlorophyll
concentration is different.
Institute for Environmental Solutions

16. Automatic Identification of Birds Using Aerial
Imaging within the Gulf of Riga

17. BIRD
BIRD
BIRD
Automatic Identification of Birds Using RGB
and Thermal Imaging
Thermal imageAerial image
Photo: A.Auniņš Photo: A.Auniņš

18. New Discoveries within Marine Monitoring
Hyperspectral image of sea birds in
water. The image shows churned up
water (blue line) which follows the path
of sea bird (white dot) swimming.

19. Mapping Shallow Water Environment and
Underwater Habitats in the Baltic Sea
Name Color
Deep blue Blue
Shallow
brown
Red
Shallow
yellow
Yellow
Deep
vegetated
Green
Green areas Cyan
Deep water Magenta
Medium
vegetated
Maroon

20. We have been worried by the growing
tendency of illegal fishing during the
spawning seasons in Latvia!
Fighting Poaching

21. Therefore, we applied Innovative Means for Fighting Poaching
By using ARSENAL’s infrared sensors
IES can easily notice poacher’s most
appreciated fishing places.

22. New Discoveries within the Fighting Poaching Project
Detected animals using infrared sensors
at night time.

23. Innovative methods for Mapping the Habitats of
European Union (EU) Importance
Ground truthing within Tiras bog
Ground truthing within Ķirba marsh
Ground truthing within Pape sand-dune
14.
26.
19.

24. Mapping of Habitats of the European Union (EU)
importance
Hyperspectral image of highly
protected Randu meadows

25. Mapping of Habitats of the European Union (EU)
Importance
False colour image produced using
hyperspectral data set highlighting different
tree species in a high value biodiversity forest
on the banks of the Ogre River oxbows.

26. Modelling of Corn-crake Habitats within Natura 2000
Territory «Dviete floodplain»
The Corncrake (Crex crex) is a protected species.
Dviete floodplain is the breeding ground for
approximately one quarter of Europe’s corncrake
population (26,000-38,000 pairs).

27. Habitat Suitability Map for the Corncrake (Crex crex)
within the Dviete Floodplain and Its Surroundings
Designation Colour
Not suitable Deep blue
Poorly suited Turquoise
Suboptimal Yellow
Optimal Red

28. Integrated Planning Tool to Ensure Viability of Grasslands
1
2
3
Hyperspectral image of the oxbows of the Ogre river
1. Cēsis Municipality
2. Farm «Šovītes»
3. Madliena Parish

29. Alternative Use of Grassland Biomass
1
2
Hyperspectral image of agricultural grasslands
1. Sigulda Municipality
2. Ludzas Municipality

30. Forest Habitat Mapping and Restoration within
the Gauja National Park (GNP)
Hydrology restoration of Bog
woodland. DTM of the
Gulbjusala Bog in GNP
DSM, Hyerspectral image and
DTM of the Gauja River Valley in
GNP

31. Classification of Tree Species in Gauja National Park

32. Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the Gauja River Valley
within the Gauja National Park
The Ancient Valley of the Gauja River. DTM, aside
ditches and EU protected forests of slopes, screes
and ravines (9180*) in the Gauja National Park.

33. Development of Methodology for Identification and Biomass
Assessment of the Giant Hogweed (Heracelum sosnowskyi)
(State Plant Protection Service)
The spread of Giant Hogweed in Latvia
The highly invasive, fast spreading Giant
Hogweed can grow up to 4 meters and its
toxic sap causes severe burns and blistering

34. Development of Methodology for Identification and Biomass
Assessment of the Giant Hogweed (Heracelum sosnowskyi)
The Giant Hogweed’s (Heracleum sosnovskyi) biomass ranging
from 45-80 tonnes per hectare

35. Development of Methodology for Identification and Biomass
Assessment of the Giant Hogweed (Heracelum sosnowskyi)
1 tonne of the Giant Hogweed’s (Heracleum sosnovskyi) biomass
can be used to extract 30 to 50 litres of biofuel.

36. KNP is a wetland national park.
Since 2004, it has been a part of the NATURA 2000 network.
Restoring the Hydrological Regime of
Ķemeri National Park (KNP)
Floodplain
grasslands
Raised
Bogs
Mineral
water
forming
Coastal
lakes
Swamp
forests
Floodplain
forests
Calcareous
fens

37. Restoring the Hydrological Regime of Wetland Forests
within the Ķemeri National Park
DTM and a scheme of the wetland forest
habitat restoration plan for the
Skudrupīte River
DTM with a drainage
system in wetland
forests

38. Restoring the Hydrological Regime of Swamp Forests
within the Ķemeri National Park (KNP)
DTM with the drainage
system and project
restoration measures in the
wetland forests
DTM and the close up of
drainage system (open ditch
network) within KNP

39. Restoration of Bittern Habitats in Coastal Lakes
Bittern Botaurus (Botaurus stellaris)
Hyperspectral image of the Engure Lake’s coast
1
2
1. Lake Engure
2. Lake Pape

40. Innovative Approach for Lake Survey in Latvia
1.
2.
3.
4.
1. 40,07 km2
2. 15,44 km2
3. 0,33 km2
4. 0,58 km2

41. Food chain survey
Scientific fish sampling
Mapping the macrophytes
Modelling ecosystem’s processes
Expertise of Czech and Finnish partners
Holistic Survey of Lake Ecosystem

42. Mapping Lake’s Overgrowth using Hyperspectral Sensors
Lake Burtnieks
Colour Macrophytes
Yellow Water-lilies
Red Club-rush groves
Green Reed beds

43. Survey of Fish Migration
Projects
Fish tracking to survey their migration habits

44. In Search for Archaeological Heritage in Agricultural and
Grasslands: Case of Koknese Fortress

45. In Search for Archeological Heritage in Agricultural and
Grasslands: Case of Koknese Fortress
Digital Terrain Model reveals a part of the
Koknese fortification system.

46. In Search for Archeological Heritage in Agricultural and
Grasslands: Case of Koknese Fortress
Aerial image of agricultural fields in Koknese parish

47. In Search for Archaeological Heritage in Agricultural and
Grasslands: Case of Koknese Fortress
Hyperspectral image of agricultural fields in Koknese parish

48. Research of the Medieval Defense System of Straupe Parish
Aerial photography of the central part of Straupe parish

49. Location of Lielstraupe castle
Pond system
Brasla River
Location of Straupe Harbor
Roads and bridges
Fortification ditches
Research of the Medieval Defense System of Straupe Parish
Digital Terrain Model revealing a well-preserved medieval defence system

50. Address: «Lidlauks», Priekuļi Parish, Priekuļi County, LV-4101
Tel.: +371 64127951
Mob. tel.: + 371 26425688
E-mail: lidlauks@videsinstituts.lv
www.videsinstituts.lv
Time-lapse of the Gauja River flow