Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
described in this chapter certainly illustrate that
the technologies can be useful, but their
application also poses a number of wider scientific
and institutional issues that have to be overcome
before the value of the technologies can be fully
realised.
An important area of scientific concern, for
example, must be the quality of the data used to
construct our GIS and the resulting quality of the
output. Data quality issues represent some of the
most challenging problems that face the GIS
community at present and should not be over-
looked by anyone who seeks to apply GIS or
remote-sensing techniques to solve a geographical
or ecological problem. The framework provided
by Aronff (1989) is still a useful one to begin to
think about some of the issues that relate to data
quality. Duggin and Robinove (1990) discuss
issues that specifically concern the analysis of
remotely sensed data. When assessing data quality,
it is useful to begin by asking questions about the
fitness
of a given data set for the particular
application and then moving on to consider issues
in relation to
content
and
context
. An explanation of
these terms and some examples that illustrate them
are given in Box 40.1. The important message here
is that only if data of appropriate quality are used
in appropriate ways can sound decisions be made
when we seek to apply the technology.
In addition to the scientific issues posed by
the use of GIS and remote sensing, we also need
to understand something of the institutional
context in which the technologies are applied.
Experience suggests that the way in which
information flows into and around organisations
also controls how effective these technologies are
in helping us to make a difference to the way we
manage the environment. Knowledge cannot be
used, for example, unless one can gain access to
it. Thus despite the potential value of GIS and
remote sensing, organisations or groups may not
have the resources to buy into the technology or
to train their staff to use it. Moreover, societies
may not have the relevant administrative
procedures in place to implement suitable
management strategies even if they know what
should be done.
Davis and Medyckyj-Scott (1996) provide
some recent insights into GIS users in the
developed world, while Sahay andWalsham (1996)
document a useful case study that focuses on the
implementation of GIS in India. Perhaps the most
challenging commentary, however, is still that
provided by Pickels (1995), who with others has
looked at the wider social and political
implications of the technologies. A key issue posed
in this work is whether the technology excludes
people from decision making or whether it forces
us to look at the work in particular sorts of ways.
There is little doubt that access to the
technologies of GIS and remote sensing will make a
difference to the way in which we understand and
manage our environment. Such technologies have
the potential to speed up and improve the flow of
information and can clearly benefit our decision-
making strategies. However, more sustainable forms
of environmental management will not evolve
automatically. Like any other technologies, they can
be used for good or ill. This chapter has shown that
GIS and remote sensing have come of age and can
be used in an operational context. The urgent tasks
that face us are to understand their wider capabilities
and to find ways of using them to inform and involve
people in the decisions we have to make, given the
pressing problems of environmental change.
GUIDE TO FURTHER READING
The following texts provide a sound introduction
to the expanding fields of GIS and remote sensing
and guidance in the principles and practice of each.
Burrough, P.A. and McDonnell, R.A. (1998)
Principles of Geographical Information Systems.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Foody, G. (1996)
Environmental Remote Sensing from
Regional to Global Scales.
Chichester: JohnWiley
& Sons.
Goodchild, M. (1996)
GIS and Environmental
Modelling: Progress and Research Issues.
NewYork:
John Wiley & Sons.
Mather, P.M. (1999)
Computer processing of
Remotely-Sensed Data,
second edition.
Chichester: JohnWiley & Sons.
