Matthew Jordan
Providing Ecological Monitoring and Drone Surveys
Projects
Daneway Banks Temporal Scrub Surveys
This project investigated the use of a drone outfitted with a standard RGB camera to quantify vegetation height and scrub levels on a site, as well as scrub changes over time and directional change (whether new scrub was the result of grassland succession or woodland clearing) on Daneway Banks. Flights were carried out in 2015, 2017 and 2021, and vegetation height and scrub maps were created.
​
Change over time maps were also created, as well as scrub clearance recommendations to meet site goals. Finally, directional change maps were created to show the direction of scrub growth and loss.
Coombe Valley Surface Water Extent Monitoring
This project investigated seasonal changes in surface water across two sites; Coombe Hill and Ashleworth Ham. Drone flights were undertaken in March, June and October 2021. A novel deep-learning package was created to classify surface water and, once classified automatically, the maps were compared to identify permanent water versus seasonal surface water. This work was important in identifying suitable conditions for wading and ground-nesting birds.
Forest of Dean Livestock Tracking
This project used thermal imaging as a proof of concept for tracking the number and position of livestock and wild deer on a site. Flights were carried out at regular intervals throughout the summer, and any livestock and wild deer identified and compared to existing lists created using ground-truthing. This method revealed the existence of far more wild deer on-site than initially believed, and allowed for quick and easy monitoring of livestock positions.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust: Hasfield Estate Mapping
This project is part of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) Severn Solutions for Nature's Recovery project, delivering Gloucestershire Nature Recovery Network’s 2030 nature recovery strategy for restoring and re-creating habitats within a priority landscape. The project involved the surveying of 12 fields, covering 48 hectares. These fields are in the process of being transformed into three different priority habitats:
• Lowland Wood Pasture
• Traditional Orchard
• Species-Rich Grassland
All 12 fields were flown over and a variety of outputs were made from the imagery, including orthomosaics, digital surface models and digital terrain models. This data can then act as a baseline to monitor the development of the habitats.
A formal, desk-based training session was also run at GWT headquarters, to help the trust learn the basics of UAV use and explore the uses of UAV’s for evidence and monitoring, specifically their application in ecological surveying.
​
Severn solutions for natures recovery is part of the Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change at the Landscape Scale Programme led by Natural England in close partnership with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and RBG Kew, Wakehurst. This Shared Outcomes Funded Programme is sponsored by Defra and DESNZ.
Dahari & Wolffish: Comoros Land Use Classification
Dahari, situated in Anjouan, is dedicated to restoring the ecosystems of the Comoros with rural communities. In collaboration with Wolf Fish, UAV surveys were conducted to comprehensively analyse human land-uses. As part of this project, I created orthomosaic maps comprising over 2,000-ha, and classified them by land use, including differentiating between native and degraded forest. The significance of the focal landscape extends to its direct impact on the lives of thousands within the community, serving as a crucial source of sustenance and income. This project underscores a commitment to fostering informed land-use practices and promoting the well-being of the local population through sustainable initiatives.
