P. Chagarlamudi et Gw. Plunkett, MAPPING APPLICATIONS FOR LOW-COST REMOTE-SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION-SYSTEMS, International journal of remote sensing, 14(17), 1993, pp. 3181-3190
Increasing attention is being given to the practicability of remote se
nsing and geographic information systems (GIS). Easily adaptable low-c
ost systems in these two rapidly advancing technologies have particula
r relevance for developing nations. Data from advanced satellite senso
r sytems such as the SPOT High Resolution Visible (HRV) and the Landsa
t Thematic Mapper (TM) have proven to be useful in topographic as well
as thematic mapping, particularly for map revision. Based on the spec
ific application, mapping systems have ranged from simple visual image
interpretation to automated digital image analysis systems with sophi
sticated classification schemes. Examples of topographic and thematic
mapping using low-cost systems will be presented. GIS have extended th
e capability of low-cost digital systems that simply provided storage
and map production capabilities, to systems providing spatial data ana
lysis including the linkage of spatial data and spatially related attr
ibutes. Data capture is an essential but laborious and expensive compo
nent of the overall mapping system. Satellite remote sensing is an obv
ious source of data for mapping and map revision because of its repeti
tive wide-area coverage and low cost. The need for integration of remo
te sensing and GIS is thus inevitable and is rapidly emerging because
of the complementary role played by these technologies in resource man
agement. The importance and utility of this integrated approach to map
ping will be documented using Canadian examples.