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B. Crawley and J. Aston
organisms is so large that one department or one country cannot manage the area (see
Kenchington, 1990).
The free exchange of information can facilitate the development of GIS
systems. Mechanisms to enhance the exchange of data should be placed as a priority.
In these cases international and regional agencies such as Forum Fisheries Agency and
the South Pacific Commission need to co-operatively deal with these problems.
Information Constraints and Sources
Potential sources of spatial data are traditional aerial photography, small-format aerial
photography, airborne radar and satellite imagery. Aerial photography in particular
can be an appropriate data source given the small size of the islands. Nevertheless,
selection of an appropriate image source should be evaluated with other mapping
techniques and sources of information.
Remote Sensing via satellite has become increasing useful for mapping.
These sources of data are considerably more effective compared to traditional
techniques such as plane table survey for mapping and other ground survey techniques
which tend to be time consuming, costly and cumbersome.
In the Pacific, the most appropriate image sources are LANDSAT and French
SPOT. Their usefulness depends on the desired resolution of the image, size of the
study area and purpose of the study. The main limitation of satellite images is due to
the high convectivity from the vast ocean and geographic location that separates the
island countries. This has created difficulty in receiving cloud free images for
delineation of features. On the other hand, users will have access to more frequent
data for monitoring changes over time where there are frequent passes of the satellite
over a specific area.
Conclusion
GIS IS AN ENABLING TECHNOLOGY
GIS is an enabling technology, the major functions are to empower people to achieve
goals that incorporate geographic spatial data (Davis, 1996). Therefore, primary
consideration should be given to the social, cultural, political and other circumstances
during the planning, implementing and operating GIS rather than the data or software.
It will be important to build on the existing foundation and local innovations.
The ability of the Pacific islands to adopt GIS technologies will depend, not
only on the appropriateness and type of GIS technology, but on how the technology is
transferred. The successfulness of the transfer of GIS technology will depend on
raising awareness of the individuals or groups expected to adapt or adopt the new
technology; having an understanding of the physical and cultural environment where
the new technology is to be adopted; demonstrations of GIS technology applications
and the benefit it provides; whether the technology is made to look attractive from the
perspective of those individuals or groups; building necessary human resources to
B. Crawley and J. Aston
organisms is so large that one department or one country cannot manage the area (see
Kenchington, 1990).
The free exchange of information can facilitate the development of GIS
systems. Mechanisms to enhance the exchange of data should be placed as a priority.
In these cases international and regional agencies such as Forum Fisheries Agency and
the South Pacific Commission need to co-operatively deal with these problems.
Information Constraints and Sources
Potential sources of spatial data are traditional aerial photography, small-format aerial
photography, airborne radar and satellite imagery. Aerial photography in particular
can be an appropriate data source given the small size of the islands. Nevertheless,
selection of an appropriate image source should be evaluated with other mapping
techniques and sources of information.
Remote Sensing via satellite has become increasing useful for mapping.
These sources of data are considerably more effective compared to traditional
techniques such as plane table survey for mapping and other ground survey techniques
which tend to be time consuming, costly and cumbersome.
In the Pacific, the most appropriate image sources are LANDSAT and French
SPOT. Their usefulness depends on the desired resolution of the image, size of the
study area and purpose of the study. The main limitation of satellite images is due to
the high convectivity from the vast ocean and geographic location that separates the
island countries. This has created difficulty in receiving cloud free images for
delineation of features. On the other hand, users will have access to more frequent
data for monitoring changes over time where there are frequent passes of the satellite
over a specific area.
Conclusion
GIS IS AN ENABLING TECHNOLOGY
GIS is an enabling technology, the major functions are to empower people to achieve
goals that incorporate geographic spatial data (Davis, 1996). Therefore, primary
consideration should be given to the social, cultural, political and other circumstances
during the planning, implementing and operating GIS rather than the data or software.
It will be important to build on the existing foundation and local innovations.
The ability of the Pacific islands to adopt GIS technologies will depend, not
only on the appropriateness and type of GIS technology, but on how the technology is
transferred. The successfulness of the transfer of GIS technology will depend on
raising awareness of the individuals or groups expected to adapt or adopt the new
technology; having an understanding of the physical and cultural environment where
the new technology is to be adopted; demonstrations of GIS technology applications
and the benefit it provides; whether the technology is made to look attractive from the
perspective of those individuals or groups; building necessary human resources to