317
tures but many may have been lost from sites as a consequence of historic management practices (e.g. neglect, over-grazing, burning or catastrophic management). In
these cases, species may be mapped where they no longer exist. These two cases
demonstrate the need for timely and comprehensive ground observations to inform
on the classifications of Earth observation data.
Concluding Remarks: What Has Remote Sensing Done
for Us?
Over the past 60 years or so, Earth observation data have progressively infiltrated
many aspects of society, economy and environment, with this achieved through
step-change and often parallel developments in Global Positioning Systems (GPS),
communications and navigation technologies, Google Earth and other web-based
delivery platforms, Geographic Information Systems and services, mobile technologies and devices, drone capability, hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing, new
sensor designs, constructions and operations, cloud and high performance computing, and the provision of free and open analysis ready data to name a few. Often
without our knowledge, these data have played, and will continue to play, a major
role in all of our activities, whether it be weather forecasting, assessing the impact
of climate change, monitoring deforestation, controlling wildfires or responding to
adverse events such as flooding, oil spills or storms. Remote sensing has already
made an enormous but often understated contribution to how we view, manage and
respond to our environment. Indeed, without Earth observations, we might not have
been aware of the scale of the changes that are occurring across the world and
instead we would be at a point where we no longer have choices in how we can
respond. However, there is no room for complacency and it is now more important
than ever to ensure that these technologies make a significant contribution to ensuring that plant and animal species continue to form and inhabit our environment for
the benefit of today’s and tomorrow’s populations.
References
Brown, T.B., Hultine, K.R., Steltzer, H., Denny, E.G., Denslow, M.W., Granddos, J., Henderseon,
S., Moore, D., Nagai, S., SanClements, M., Sánchez-Azofeifa, A., Sonnentag, O., Tazik, D.,
Richardson, A.D.: Using phenocams to monitor our changing Earth: toward a global phenocam
network. Front. Ecol. Environ. 14, 84–93 (2016)
Bunting, P.: Pre-processing of remotely sensed imagery. In: Díaz-Delgado, R., Lucas, R., Hurford,
C. (eds.), The Roles of Remote Sensing in Nature Conservation. A Practical Guide and Case
Studies. Springer, Cham (2017)
Cho, M.A., Mathieu, R., Asner, G.P., Naidoo, L., van Aardt, J., Ramoel, A., Debba, P., Wessels, K.,
Main, R., Smit, I., Erasmus, B.: Mapping tree species composition in South African savannas
using an integrated airborne spectral and lidar system. Remote Sens. Environ. 125, 214–226
(2012)
Expected Advances in a Rapidly Developing Work Area
tures but many may have been lost from sites as a consequence of historic management practices (e.g. neglect, over-grazing, burning or catastrophic management). In
these cases, species may be mapped where they no longer exist. These two cases
demonstrate the need for timely and comprehensive ground observations to inform
on the classifications of Earth observation data.
Concluding Remarks: What Has Remote Sensing Done
for Us?
Over the past 60 years or so, Earth observation data have progressively infiltrated
many aspects of society, economy and environment, with this achieved through
step-change and often parallel developments in Global Positioning Systems (GPS),
communications and navigation technologies, Google Earth and other web-based
delivery platforms, Geographic Information Systems and services, mobile technologies and devices, drone capability, hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing, new
sensor designs, constructions and operations, cloud and high performance computing, and the provision of free and open analysis ready data to name a few. Often
without our knowledge, these data have played, and will continue to play, a major
role in all of our activities, whether it be weather forecasting, assessing the impact
of climate change, monitoring deforestation, controlling wildfires or responding to
adverse events such as flooding, oil spills or storms. Remote sensing has already
made an enormous but often understated contribution to how we view, manage and
respond to our environment. Indeed, without Earth observations, we might not have
been aware of the scale of the changes that are occurring across the world and
instead we would be at a point where we no longer have choices in how we can
respond. However, there is no room for complacency and it is now more important
than ever to ensure that these technologies make a significant contribution to ensuring that plant and animal species continue to form and inhabit our environment for
the benefit of today’s and tomorrow’s populations.
References
Brown, T.B., Hultine, K.R., Steltzer, H., Denny, E.G., Denslow, M.W., Granddos, J., Henderseon,
S., Moore, D., Nagai, S., SanClements, M., Sánchez-Azofeifa, A., Sonnentag, O., Tazik, D.,
Richardson, A.D.: Using phenocams to monitor our changing Earth: toward a global phenocam
network. Front. Ecol. Environ. 14, 84–93 (2016)
Bunting, P.: Pre-processing of remotely sensed imagery. In: Díaz-Delgado, R., Lucas, R., Hurford,
C. (eds.), The Roles of Remote Sensing in Nature Conservation. A Practical Guide and Case
Studies. Springer, Cham (2017)
Cho, M.A., Mathieu, R., Asner, G.P., Naidoo, L., van Aardt, J., Ramoel, A., Debba, P., Wessels, K.,
Main, R., Smit, I., Erasmus, B.: Mapping tree species composition in South African savannas
using an integrated airborne spectral and lidar system. Remote Sens. Environ. 125, 214–226
(2012)
Expected Advances in a Rapidly Developing Work Area