Using Remotely Sensed Imagery for CZM
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information to solve a specific issue. The data types, having already being matched to
an issue, would be exactly what the user required.
Discussion and Conclusions
Human beings appear to have an in-built and instinctive ability to gather and use geospatial data. Indeed, the use of such data is an essential and invaluable part of day-today living. Maps are perhaps one of the most widespread methods of displaying and
using geo-spatial information. However, the advent of new technologies, such as remote
sensing and GIS has dramatically increased our ability to understand the world around
us. In the modern world, the effective management of the environment has become a
necessity. Commensurate with this is the need for geo-spatial data about the
environment that will eventually become the information and knowledge that is required
to carry out environmental management. Remote sensing is an excellent source of data
about the environment. One of its key advantages is that because it is a 'snap shot' of the
real world, people will instinctively relate to and recognise what is shown in the image.
Despite this, remotely sensed data is not as widely used as it could be, because those
who need to use it (environmental managers) are not familiar with its utility, or
automatically assume that aerial photography is the best source of data for everything.
In reality, understanding that each sensor provides imagery with its own set of benefits
and limitations is the key to its use. The spatial resolution of an image (rather like the
scale of a map) is the basic limit to the amount of information that an image contains
when considering spatial relationships, even between spectral data. On this basis,
imagery can be organised with a hierarchical structure, from a high spatial resolution to
a low spatial resolution. By determining the spatial, temporal and spectral requirements
of an environmental issue, it is possible to understand the information requirements for
solving that issue, and to match these up with the corresponding characteristics or utility
of an image. In this way, criteria can be developed to guide the user to the correct image
for a particular issue. A further development of this is to construct a computer-based
Layered Information Search and Retrieval System that will automatically retrieve an
image using the users own search criteria. Such a system would provide greater utility
than a standard image catalogue, GIS or Decision Support System (DSS). Its advantage
would be in the simple interface to visual data at a range of scales that people can use in
a management situation, like coastal zone management.
Many problems still exist when trying to utilise remote sensing technology in
the environmental management arena. These include the lack of knowledge surrounding
the types of imagery and what they can be used for, image processing techniques to
extract useful information, and a general 'slowness' in accepting information technology
(IT) in the management workplace. However, the system proposed would effectively
help to 'operationalise' remote sensing in this area, an objective that it is highly
important to meet.
485
information to solve a specific issue. The data types, having already being matched to
an issue, would be exactly what the user required.
Discussion and Conclusions
Human beings appear to have an in-built and instinctive ability to gather and use geospatial data. Indeed, the use of such data is an essential and invaluable part of day-today living. Maps are perhaps one of the most widespread methods of displaying and
using geo-spatial information. However, the advent of new technologies, such as remote
sensing and GIS has dramatically increased our ability to understand the world around
us. In the modern world, the effective management of the environment has become a
necessity. Commensurate with this is the need for geo-spatial data about the
environment that will eventually become the information and knowledge that is required
to carry out environmental management. Remote sensing is an excellent source of data
about the environment. One of its key advantages is that because it is a 'snap shot' of the
real world, people will instinctively relate to and recognise what is shown in the image.
Despite this, remotely sensed data is not as widely used as it could be, because those
who need to use it (environmental managers) are not familiar with its utility, or
automatically assume that aerial photography is the best source of data for everything.
In reality, understanding that each sensor provides imagery with its own set of benefits
and limitations is the key to its use. The spatial resolution of an image (rather like the
scale of a map) is the basic limit to the amount of information that an image contains
when considering spatial relationships, even between spectral data. On this basis,
imagery can be organised with a hierarchical structure, from a high spatial resolution to
a low spatial resolution. By determining the spatial, temporal and spectral requirements
of an environmental issue, it is possible to understand the information requirements for
solving that issue, and to match these up with the corresponding characteristics or utility
of an image. In this way, criteria can be developed to guide the user to the correct image
for a particular issue. A further development of this is to construct a computer-based
Layered Information Search and Retrieval System that will automatically retrieve an
image using the users own search criteria. Such a system would provide greater utility
than a standard image catalogue, GIS or Decision Support System (DSS). Its advantage
would be in the simple interface to visual data at a range of scales that people can use in
a management situation, like coastal zone management.
Many problems still exist when trying to utilise remote sensing technology in
the environmental management arena. These include the lack of knowledge surrounding
the types of imagery and what they can be used for, image processing techniques to
extract useful information, and a general 'slowness' in accepting information technology
(IT) in the management workplace. However, the system proposed would effectively
help to 'operationalise' remote sensing in this area, an objective that it is highly
important to meet.