C Implementation actions

Results of the subaction C3-S1

Results of the subaction C3-S2 – Creation of the normalized digital surface model (nDSM) from existing DSM/DTM models

The Digital Surface Model (DSM) represents the land surface and includes all objects and features, including vegetation. The Digital Terrain Model (DTM) represents the ground surface without objects. The Normalized Model (nDSM) is obtained as the difference between high-quality DSM and DTM data.

DSM developed

For the DSM data preparation, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defence on the provision of spatial data generated within the framework of the international “Multinational TanDEM-X High Resolution Elevation Data Exchange Program” implemented by the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with NATO member states. The data was delivered obtaining quality certification.

Initially, all necessary data for the TREx program was supposed to be fully available by mid-2022, but due to delays in the quality verification procedures of the delivered data for individual fields (a total of 22) measuring 1° x 1° of the entire area of the Republic of Croatia, the data was not completed by the end of 2023, and the final delivery was made only in October 2024.

The State Geodetic Administration conducted a comprehensive analysis of all data obtained from the TREx program during 2023. In collaboration with project partners and advisory board members, it was recognized that the data obtained from the TREx program would not meet the quality requirements for the development of the nDSM, which will be used in the development of the methodology and later in the creation of the Land cover layer.

During 2022 and 2023, within the framework of the project “Multisensor Aerial Imaging of the Republic of Croatia for Disaster Risk Reduction Assessment,” the possibility of using Lidar data emerged because the final delivery date of these data was shorter than the proposed final delivery date of the TREx data, and there were uncertainties regarding the quality of those data. Thanks to the SGA, early analysis of Lidar data on test areas, performed by project partner EKONERG Ltd. showed the necessary data quality. After consulting with Project Advisory Board members and project partners, it was decided to wait for the delivery of Lidar data and use them for the preparation of the DSM.

This was done during the last quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 when the project was allowed to use the data, and the obtained data were used to prepare DSM data as input data for the creation of the nDSM.

The analysis of data from the TREx program and the project “Multisensor Aerial Imaging of the Republic of Croatia for Disaster Risk Reduction Assessment” and the preparation of the DSM were carried out by SGA employees.

During the preparation of data for DSM and nDSM, as part of project activity C3, SGA employees participated in the INSPIRE conference “Green Data for All” held at the Albert Borschette Congress Center, Rue Froissart 36, 1040 Etterbeek, Belgium, from October 28 to 29, 2023.

The main themes of the conference were the continuation of INSPIRE and new technologies that rely on INSPIRE spatial data, such as high-value data and data centers. The INSPIRE 2023 conference provided an excellent opportunity to consult with the stakeholder community on the initial findings of the Green Deal for All (“GreenDeal4All”) impact assessment and possible policies for evolving the INSPIRE directive into a key instrument for filling the Green Deal data spaces with relevant data.

More details could be found in the Elaborate: Development of DSM for Croatia, Ljerka Marić, Tomislav Ciceli, Sonja Debeljuh Novosel

Normalized Digital Surface Model (nDSM) developed

As foreseen in the Agreement LIFE 19 GIC/HR/001270 (GA) within the project action C3, the development of the nDSM was carried out based on the collected DSM data.

After preparing the DSM based on Lidar data within the project “Multisensor Aerial Imaging of the Republic of Croatia for Disaster Risk Reduction Assessment” the implementation of this task included the engagement of employees of the State Geodetic Administration (SGA) and the procurement of external assistance for geodetic services (creation of the nDSM).

This was done during the last quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 when the project was allowed to use the new Lidar data as input DSM data for the creation of the nDSM.

The analysis of data as well as the preparation of data for the creation of the nDSM, quality checks, preparation, and publication of the final product (nDSM), were carried out by SGA employees.

Based on the prepared data from the SGA through External assistance provided by the GA, the nDSM was created as a project deliverable.

For the external service of creating the nDSM, a public procurement procedure was conducted, and the service was contracted with the company CADCOM d.o.o., which was carried out from 26^th February 2024 to 31^st March 2024.

The entire nDSM or its parts (nDSM data derived from DSM and DTM from laser scanning with a resolution of 1×1 m in tiff+tfw format (per sheet) according to the division into 1:2 000 sheets) can be downloaded after filling out the user information questionnaire on the „Request for Reuse of Normalized Digital Surface Model (nDMP) Data“ created within the LIFE CROLIS project.

In agreement with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and the State Geodetic Administration, the created nDSM has been available on the State Geodetic Administration’s website since 26^th July, 2024, at the following link here.

More details could be found in the Elaborate: Development of DSM for Croatia, Ljerka Marić, Tomislav Ciceli, Sonja Debeljuh Novosel

Results of the subaction C3-S3

Results of the subaction C3-S4

Results of the subaction C3-S5

Results of the subaction C3-S6