Landsat TM and Resurs images
The Caspian Centre for Combating Desertification since mid 1998 established equipment for modern ArcView 3.2 and WinChips based technology necessary to detect desertification phenomena using satellite images. First works in phase 1 (1998-2000) concentrated on investigations of desertification types and degrees around the Caspian. For this purpose Landsat TM images from 1982-84 and Resurs images from 1998 were used to compile desertification maps in the scale 1:1000000 for the entire Caspian Region. All countries conducted field trips to verify the classification made from Computer.

Landsat ETM image of Volga's delta 5th May, 2001

Since July 2000 all five teams are working in key areas including

• Choosing the latest Resurs images from spring time
• Georeferencing images
• Un-supervised and semi-supervised classification with WinChips
• Layouting and mapping
• Verification of results in field trips regarding desertification including vegetation cover and soils

Investigations to additional data for water resources; microclimate, land use, land-based pollution, transportation and socio-economic issues will be added.