Leman-Baikal: Collaboration, science and technology on Lake Baikal
© 2014 EPFL
Great progress is being done by the joint Swiss-Russian team currently working in the Selenga delta on Lake Baikal in Southern Siberia. The Leman-Baikal project brings Swiss and Russian science and technology together to study and preserve our freshwater resources. Scientists are using ultralight aircrafts with cutting-edge imaging technology to diagnose the health of lake environments from above. Our progress is documented on the Leman-Baikal project's blog.
The teams includes scientists and students from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Moscow State University and the Baikal Institute of Nature Management in Ulan Ude. The latest version of the airborne remote sensing platform created at the Geodetic Engineering Laboratory (TOPO) of EPFL consists of six multispectral and hyperspectral optical sensors, including the unique hyperspectral VISNX camera, which was recently developed in collaboration with EPFL TOPO, Imec and Ximea.
In addition to the airborne remote sensing methods, the field work includes the collection of water samples in over 30 sites around the delta and a detailed analysis of their biological and chemical properties, as well the recording of the spectral reflectance characteristics of the various land and water surface types. This methodology will potentially allow the project's team to carry out a detailed analysis of the influences of the various natural and antropogenic processes in the basin of the river Selenga on the environmental state of lake Baikal.
The work is carried out against the magnificent setting of the Selenga delta on lake Baikal!
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