MAPPING APPLICATIONS FOR LOW-COST REMOTE-SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION-SYSTEMS

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.