Evaluation of digital photography as a tool for field monitoring in potentially inhospitable environments

Efficient and accurate vegetation monitoring is essential for successful assessment of upland moorland restoration. Working conditions on open moorland may be difficult, and surveying and monitoring of vegetation problematic. Image capture by digital photography, with subsequent computer analysis, was used to monitor Calluna vulgaris post-wildfire. Problems, for example picture warp, associated with close range photography of quadrats, were overcome. Digital imagery measurements of vegetation cover showed no significant difference compared with a traditional point quadrat method.