Environmental-geological study of coastal areas of Salento Peninsula (Southern Italy) using multitemporal aerial photography and satellite imagery

An analysis of the physical environment of the Salento coastal zone and the impact of human activities in the last few decades on it has been accomplished using aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Panchromatic stereo SPOT images were processed using digital photogrammetric software to produce a detailed DEM of the study area. These images, together with multispectral/panchromatic Landsat 7 data, were visually interpreted to study the physical geological setting, classify the coastline, and detect erosion/deposition processes along it. All the satellite data used at this stage were georeferenced and registered to each other. Panchromatic and multispectral images were also integrated using image fusion techniques. Three datasets of multitemporal stereo aerial photographs, acquired over the last 50 years, were used for a detailed analysis of the coastline and to assess urban and industrial development. Over some sample areas, particularly. interesting because of the natural or human-triggered coastline changes, aerial photographs were georeferenced, registered to each other and orthorectified for quantitative analysis of time changes. All data collected during this project and the analytical results were implemented in a geographic database. This database will provide valuable information for planning and management of the coastal areas of Salento Peninsula.