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Using UAV imagery to evaluate the effects of sport events on ground vegetation in the Swedish mountains

Osterman, Anna LU (2026) In Student thesis series INES NGEM01 20261
Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Abstract
During recent years the interest in visits to the Swedish alpine regions have increased, and many regions have experienced a trend towards a higher number of sport events. An increasing interest in nature tourism can bring positive effects on wellbeing and health as well as increasing knowledge and consideration for the environment. Though, all effects are not positive since nature-based activities imply impacts on nature. Relatively few studies on wear from outdoor activities and nature tourism in the Swedish alpine regions exist today, and a knowledge gap is mentioned directly related to the effects on nature from sport events.
This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of a mountain marathon on ground vegetation in the... (More)
During recent years the interest in visits to the Swedish alpine regions have increased, and many regions have experienced a trend towards a higher number of sport events. An increasing interest in nature tourism can bring positive effects on wellbeing and health as well as increasing knowledge and consideration for the environment. Though, all effects are not positive since nature-based activities imply impacts on nature. Relatively few studies on wear from outdoor activities and nature tourism in the Swedish alpine regions exist today, and a knowledge gap is mentioned directly related to the effects on nature from sport events.
This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of a mountain marathon on ground vegetation in the Swedish alpine region using field vegetation inventory and UAV imagery. UAV imagery is a promising method for studying detailed patterns over a large area. Classified maps at study sites along the marathon trail provided a good overview of the overall impact and the distribution of vegetation classes. No clear difference was possible to visualize from before to after the event, however a new path created from the event was captured by the classification. Previous studies aligning with this finding have found that an increase in use on already established trails does not have a large impact, while initial use on a previously undisturbed site causes greater impact.
The field inventory showed an increase in bare ground coverage from before to after the event, while the classes for grass and shrub decreased. These changes could not be identified by the classification, indicating it is not detailed enough to capture relatively small changes found in the field inventory. An evaluation of the species composition agreed with the change in vegetation class coverage and at the same time provided more detailed information about vegetation in relation to wear. The change took place at both the study sites at the marathon trail and reference sites, indicating no substantial impact of the event on the study sites more than other sources of impact like other visitors.
Further studies are needed to evaluate the complex problem of wear related to human behavior and multiple environmental factors. This study assessed short-term effects, while long-term effects are of importance to fully understand the impact of a sport event on ground vegetation. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Swedish)
Under de senaste åren har intresset för besök i de svenska fjällen ökat och många områden har upplevt en trend mot ett högre antal sportevent. Ett ökat intresse för naturturism kan leda till positiva effekter på välmående och hälsa samt en ökad kunskap och hänsyn till naturen. Alla effekter är dock inte positiva, eftersom naturbaserade aktiviteter kan medföra slitage på naturen. En kunskapslucka finns idag direkt relaterad till påverkan på naturen från sportevenemang, vilket denna studie syftade till att adressera.
Syftet med studien var att undersöka korttidseffekter på markvegetation från ett fjällmaraton i den sydliga delen av den svenska fjällkedjan. Arbetet baserades på fältbesök innan och efter eventet, vilka inkluderade inventering... (More)
Under de senaste åren har intresset för besök i de svenska fjällen ökat och många områden har upplevt en trend mot ett högre antal sportevent. Ett ökat intresse för naturturism kan leda till positiva effekter på välmående och hälsa samt en ökad kunskap och hänsyn till naturen. Alla effekter är dock inte positiva, eftersom naturbaserade aktiviteter kan medföra slitage på naturen. En kunskapslucka finns idag direkt relaterad till påverkan på naturen från sportevenemang, vilket denna studie syftade till att adressera.
Syftet med studien var att undersöka korttidseffekter på markvegetation från ett fjällmaraton i den sydliga delen av den svenska fjällkedjan. Arbetet baserades på fältbesök innan och efter eventet, vilka inkluderade inventering av vegetation och fotografering med drönare. Användning av drönarbilder är en lovande metod för att undersöka detaljerade mönster över ett större område. Genom att kartlägga vegetationsklasser längs fjällmaratonets led kan en översikt över det sammantagna påverkansområdet skapas.
Ingen tydlig skillnad mellan före och efter eventet kunde åskådliggöras i de klassificerade kartorna, i undantag för en ny stig skapad av årets event som fångades upp av klassificeringen. Likt andra studiers resultat bekräftades det att en ökning av användning på redan etablerade leder inte bidrar till en stor påverkan, medan en första användning på tidigare opåverkade platser har en större påverkan. Inventeringen av vegetation i fält visade å andra sidan på en ökning av barmarkstäckning från före till efter eventet, samtidigt som täckningen av klasserna för gräs och buske visade en minskning i täckning. Förändringen noterades på både studieplatser längs maratonets led och referensplatser, vilket indikerar att ingen betydande påverkan från maratonet har skett vid studieplatserna större än andra källor till slitage som exempelvis andra besökare.
Fler studier behövs för att utvärdera det komplexa problemet med slitage relaterat till mänskligt beteende och flertalet miljöfaktorer. Den här studien bedömde korttidseffekter, medan långtidseffekter är nödvändiga för att skapa en förståelse för den påverkan som sportevenemang har på markvegetationen. En ökad förståelse för slitage till följd av sportevenemang kan bidra till bättre planering av hållbara sportevenemang i miljöer som de svenska fjällen. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Osterman, Anna LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Användning av UAV bilder för att utvärdera effekterna av sportevenemang på markvegetation i de svenska fjällen
course
NGEM01 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Geography, Remote Sensing, UAV, Vegetation, Alpine, Sport Event
publication/series
Student thesis series INES
report number
789
funder
The Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography (SSAG)
language
English
id
9249087
date added to LUP
2026-08-27 11:35:03
date last changed
2026-08-27 11:52:29
@misc{9249087,
  abstract     = {{During recent years the interest in visits to the Swedish alpine regions have increased, and many regions have experienced a trend towards a higher number of sport events. An increasing interest in nature tourism can bring positive effects on wellbeing and health as well as increasing knowledge and consideration for the environment. Though, all effects are not positive since nature-based activities imply impacts on nature. Relatively few studies on wear from outdoor activities and nature tourism in the Swedish alpine regions exist today, and a knowledge gap is mentioned directly related to the effects on nature from sport events. 
This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of a mountain marathon on ground vegetation in the Swedish alpine region using field vegetation inventory and UAV imagery. UAV imagery is a promising method for studying detailed patterns over a large area. Classified maps at study sites along the marathon trail provided a good overview of the overall impact and the distribution of vegetation classes. No clear difference was possible to visualize from before to after the event, however a new path created from the event was captured by the classification. Previous studies aligning with this finding have found that an increase in use on already established trails does not have a large impact, while initial use on a previously undisturbed site causes greater impact.
The field inventory showed an increase in bare ground coverage from before to after the event, while the classes for grass and shrub decreased. These changes could not be identified by the classification, indicating it is not detailed enough to capture relatively small changes found in the field inventory. An evaluation of the species composition agreed with the change in vegetation class coverage and at the same time provided more detailed information about vegetation in relation to wear. The change took place at both the study sites at the marathon trail and reference sites, indicating no substantial impact of the event on the study sites more than other sources of impact like other visitors.
Further studies are needed to evaluate the complex problem of wear related to human behavior and multiple environmental factors. This study assessed short-term effects, while long-term effects are of importance to fully understand the impact of a sport event on ground vegetation.}},
  author       = {{Osterman, Anna}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Student thesis series INES}},
  title        = {{Using UAV imagery to evaluate the effects of sport events on ground vegetation in the Swedish mountains}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}