A 4 Earth Intelligence Case Study for Lambeth Borough Council (UK)

4 Earth Intelligence (4EI) partnered with Lambeth Borough Council to produce high- resolution mapping of green infrastructure and permeable/impermeable surfaces. This intelligence was commissioned to directly support Lambeth’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) goal reporting, specifically allowing the council to monitor the percentage of sustainably managed surfaces and understand the local population’s access to high-quality green spaces.

Project Objectives & Scope

To support Lambeth’s environmental goals, 4EI was tasked with delivering an updated, highly accurate geospatial baseline. The core objectives included:

• Utilising Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery to deliver satellite-derived Green Infrastructure mapping for the Lambeth area.
• Providing a robust dataset to build upon the initial green infrastructure map produced for the council in 2023.
• Differentiating and classifying permeable versus impermeable surfaces across the borough to support sustainability metrics.

Methodology & Technical Approach

The project was structured into distinct work packages, combining advanced remote sensing and proprietary geospatial analytics:

• Satellite Imagery Acquisition & Processing: 4EI utilised 50cm resolution multispectral EarthScanner satellite imagery
  • The collection strategy involved new tasking to capture imagery during both summer and winter seasons to ensure comprehensive seasonal analysis.
  • Extensive image processing was undertaken, including atmospheric correction, pansharpening, and orthorectification, to guarantee data integrity before analysis.
• Green Infrastructure Analysis: The team analysed the VHR satellite imagery to extract distinct green areas across Lambeth and link them with the existing 2023 infrastructure database.
  • To accurately detect vegetation, 4EI computed the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI).
  • Analysts dynamically amended NDVI thresholds where appropriate to ensure the most accurate and complete detection of green surfaces across the complex urban environment.

Key Deliverables & Outcomes

4EI provided Lambeth Borough Council with a suite of actionable geospatial intelligence products designed for immediate integration into their existing systems:

• Processed Satellite Imagery: Delivered as high-resolution GeoTIFF files alongside necessary auxiliary files.
• Green Infrastructure Map: A fully attributed ESRI Geodatabase mapping the extent of green spaces, ensuring seamless alignment with the client’s internal GIS architecture.
• Methodological Reporting: A comprehensive final report detailing the methodology, execution, and results of the survey.

Conclusion

By leveraging cutting-edge Earth Observation techniques, 4EI empowered Lambeth Borough Council with the evidence-based intelligence required to accurately track their Climate Action Plan progress and manage their urban green spaces effectively.

Contact Information and Links

To find out more please get in touch or reach out to us at info@4earthintelligence.com.