334
A.M.J. Meijerink and C.M.M. Mannaerts
other automated spectral classifications proved to be systematically correct during the
field check. Graphs and maps have been prepared to show the increase of damaged
rice lands. These fonned the basic input for planning of remediation measures at
provincial level.
15.3 River basin planning with the aid of remote sensing
15.3.1 Introduction
Development in most countries and regions of the world stands in direct relation to
their mastery and management of water resources. Rational water management should
be based upon a thorough understanding of water availability and movement. The
river basin, being the physical hydrologic unit, to which the basic principles of
conservation of mass and energy apply, is a common and widely adopted concept in
hydrology for assessing water and energy balance components. The water balance is
a basic tool for analyzing the availability of water resources at national, regional or
local scale. GIS has proven an excellent tool to support large scale resource planning,
allowing easy aggregation, overlaying and querying between resources and demands
(Keser & Bogardi, 1993). Since spatial data is needed, the mapping potential of
remotely sensed imagery contributes to identification and assessment of components
of the water balance over large areas. Furthennore, features can be studied of areas
which will benefit from allocated water. Besides water balance studies, remote
sensing has another potential for water management in large river basins. Full scenes
of high resolution imagery of, e.g., Landsat TM or Spot can provide synoptic overviews of basins, and permit visual or digital interpretation and identification of
landscape units, geologic features, land cover complexes, drainage patterns and
geomorphology of floodplains, all essential infonnation layers for solving water
management problems. A review on the state of the art of use of remote sensing data
in water resources management can be found in Bastiaanssen (1998).
15.3.2 Hydrologic monitoring & forecasting
A widely known application illustrating the use of weather satellite systems for
prediction and forecasting of rainfall and flood hydrology of large international river
basins is the River Nile monitoring, forecasting and simulation project. This project
makes use of the low spatial resolution but high temporal resolution imagery of
weather satellites (Meteosat, NOAA) which are merged with ground data in order to
produce spatial rainfall estimates. These predictions are then used as inputs in a water
balance and real-time flood routing and forecasting model of the Nile river (Attia et
al., 1993). An alternative method for estimation of available water resources in a river
basin is given in Chap. 18.
A.M.J. Meijerink and C.M.M. Mannaerts
other automated spectral classifications proved to be systematically correct during the
field check. Graphs and maps have been prepared to show the increase of damaged
rice lands. These fonned the basic input for planning of remediation measures at
provincial level.
15.3 River basin planning with the aid of remote sensing
15.3.1 Introduction
Development in most countries and regions of the world stands in direct relation to
their mastery and management of water resources. Rational water management should
be based upon a thorough understanding of water availability and movement. The
river basin, being the physical hydrologic unit, to which the basic principles of
conservation of mass and energy apply, is a common and widely adopted concept in
hydrology for assessing water and energy balance components. The water balance is
a basic tool for analyzing the availability of water resources at national, regional or
local scale. GIS has proven an excellent tool to support large scale resource planning,
allowing easy aggregation, overlaying and querying between resources and demands
(Keser & Bogardi, 1993). Since spatial data is needed, the mapping potential of
remotely sensed imagery contributes to identification and assessment of components
of the water balance over large areas. Furthennore, features can be studied of areas
which will benefit from allocated water. Besides water balance studies, remote
sensing has another potential for water management in large river basins. Full scenes
of high resolution imagery of, e.g., Landsat TM or Spot can provide synoptic overviews of basins, and permit visual or digital interpretation and identification of
landscape units, geologic features, land cover complexes, drainage patterns and
geomorphology of floodplains, all essential infonnation layers for solving water
management problems. A review on the state of the art of use of remote sensing data
in water resources management can be found in Bastiaanssen (1998).
15.3.2 Hydrologic monitoring & forecasting
A widely known application illustrating the use of weather satellite systems for
prediction and forecasting of rainfall and flood hydrology of large international river
basins is the River Nile monitoring, forecasting and simulation project. This project
makes use of the low spatial resolution but high temporal resolution imagery of
weather satellites (Meteosat, NOAA) which are merged with ground data in order to
produce spatial rainfall estimates. These predictions are then used as inputs in a water
balance and real-time flood routing and forecasting model of the Nile river (Attia et
al., 1993). An alternative method for estimation of available water resources in a river
basin is given in Chap. 18.