Digital change detection essentially comprises the quantification of temporal phenomena from
multidate imagery that is most commonly acquired by satellite-based multispectral sensors. The
scientific literature reveals, however, that digital change detection is a difficult task to perform. An
interpreter analyzing large-scale aerial photography will almost always produce more accurate results
with a higher degree of precision (Edwards, 1990). Nevertheless, visual change detection is difficult to
replicate because different interpreters produce different results. Furthermore, visual detection incurs
substantial data acquisition costs. Apart from offering consistent and repeatable procedures, digital
methods can also more efficiently incorporate features from the infrared and microwave parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of digital change detection in forest
ecosystems, with emphasis on temperate forests. The paper extends that of Singh (1989) who provided
the first comprehensive summary of methods and techniques of digital change detection