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When Earth observation data are obtained, there is often a lack of confidence in
what individuals or groups produce from these and how this stands up when
reviewed, particularly if they are not experts in the field. This often arises from a
lack of training as many conservation managers have greater expertise in fields
other than Earth observation, such as ecology and water management. Similarly,
Earth observation scientists may not have expertise in these areas. Understanding
the theory and concepts behind Earth observation takes time and effort. In order to
address this, the following approach may be useful.
(a) Identify and nurture staff in the organization who show a keen interest in Earth
observation for nature conservation.
(b) Identify the key skills that exist or are needed.
(c) Seek or provide funding that allows individuals or groups to be trained, with
clear objectives and outcomes that benefit protected areas and ensure long-term
engagement of staff and continuity in effort. These might include, for example,
pilot training for drones, basic remote sensing image processing and GIS analyses, or computer programming in common languages.
(d) Collaborating (ideally long-term) with individuals or institutions with existing
skills, expertise and knowledge in the processing and analysis of Earth observation data.
A large number of short to long-term training opportunities are available, with
these including those that are online, provided as short courses or conducted through
formal tuition (e.g., Masters or Ph.D. programmes). Linking a series of training
courses with qualifications or accreditations is often beneficial and motivating for
staff, including volunteers, and allows them to advance careers and increase capacity to achieve nature conservation goals.
Where to From Here? A Remote Sensing Perspective
At the time of writing, we have already entered a new era in Earth observation with
the launch of the Sentinel-1/2 satellites providing free radar and optical data at spatial resolutions as high as 10 m and with observations at least every 5 days across
multiple wavelength regions. The Landsat-8 sensor data are also available at no cost
to the user. In both cases, analysis ready data (i.e., orthorectified and corrected to
surface reflectance or with radar calibrations and topographic corrections) are being
delivered as well as pre-processing and analysis software. Argentina’s and the
USA’s forthcoming SAOCOM and NiSAR, will be providing L-band Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) data at no cost, with this complementing the freely available
annual 25 m mosaics of Japanese L-band SAR data, archives of which extend back
to the mid 1990s. NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)
Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS; 2003–2009) is to be superseded by the
Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) LiDAR, with both providing the
capacity to retrieve information on the vertical distribution of plant material with
R. Lucas et al.
When Earth observation data are obtained, there is often a lack of confidence in
what individuals or groups produce from these and how this stands up when
reviewed, particularly if they are not experts in the field. This often arises from a
lack of training as many conservation managers have greater expertise in fields
other than Earth observation, such as ecology and water management. Similarly,
Earth observation scientists may not have expertise in these areas. Understanding
the theory and concepts behind Earth observation takes time and effort. In order to
address this, the following approach may be useful.
(a) Identify and nurture staff in the organization who show a keen interest in Earth
observation for nature conservation.
(b) Identify the key skills that exist or are needed.
(c) Seek or provide funding that allows individuals or groups to be trained, with
clear objectives and outcomes that benefit protected areas and ensure long-term
engagement of staff and continuity in effort. These might include, for example,
pilot training for drones, basic remote sensing image processing and GIS analyses, or computer programming in common languages.
(d) Collaborating (ideally long-term) with individuals or institutions with existing
skills, expertise and knowledge in the processing and analysis of Earth observation data.
A large number of short to long-term training opportunities are available, with
these including those that are online, provided as short courses or conducted through
formal tuition (e.g., Masters or Ph.D. programmes). Linking a series of training
courses with qualifications or accreditations is often beneficial and motivating for
staff, including volunteers, and allows them to advance careers and increase capacity to achieve nature conservation goals.
Where to From Here? A Remote Sensing Perspective
At the time of writing, we have already entered a new era in Earth observation with
the launch of the Sentinel-1/2 satellites providing free radar and optical data at spatial resolutions as high as 10 m and with observations at least every 5 days across
multiple wavelength regions. The Landsat-8 sensor data are also available at no cost
to the user. In both cases, analysis ready data (i.e., orthorectified and corrected to
surface reflectance or with radar calibrations and topographic corrections) are being
delivered as well as pre-processing and analysis software. Argentina’s and the
USA’s forthcoming SAOCOM and NiSAR, will be providing L-band Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) data at no cost, with this complementing the freely available
annual 25 m mosaics of Japanese L-band SAR data, archives of which extend back
to the mid 1990s. NASA’s Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)
Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS; 2003–2009) is to be superseded by the
Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) LiDAR, with both providing the
capacity to retrieve information on the vertical distribution of plant material with
R. Lucas et al.