Geotechnologies in Environmental Management - Geotechnologies and the Environment - page 3

In response, social scientists are adopting geotechnologies in their research,
while physical scientists are recognizing the significant contributions their work
can make in environmental decision-making processes. Indeed, the application of
geotechnologies does not occur in a vacuum (as there are reasons for applying these
technologies), nor does sound management decisions occur without the input of sci-
entifically rigorous data and analyses. Likewise, agencies that fund research using
or emphasizing geotechnologies are also encouraging multidisciplinary studies
between scientists, both social and physical. To that end, social scientists and phys-
ical scientists have learned (and continue to learn) how to speak with each other -
and not just “to” each other - using a common geospatial language that is arguably
becoming ubiquitous in the literature.
However, the levels in which geotechnologies are employed still vary con-
siderably (see Lyon and McCarthy 1995 ). At the fundamental level, geotech-
nologies aid in the basic inventory, information storage, and quantification of
spatially-referenced data. At the highest level, geotechnologies can create com-
plex, spatially integrated models of a given phenomena. At whatever level, however,
the importance of the geospatial component in understanding the geography of
human-environment interactions is essential to managing environmental systems.
One of the strengths of this topic is all authors have explicitly linked their use of
geotechnologies to environmental management implications. All chapters provide a
compelling discussion on how the management of resources can benefit from infor-
mation produced through the application of geotechnologies. The main focus (and
resultant strength) of these case studies is the fact that all incorporate the causative
and resultant roles of environmental management practices, policies or decision
making perspectives within a geospatial context. Moreover, authors explicitly state
the type of geotechnology (e.g. GIS, remote sensing, GPS, statistical analysis, etc.)
used in their chapter, making it easy for readers to find studies using particular types
of geotechnologies. Topics covered in this topic range thematically from forest fires
(Medler) to wetlands management (Merchant and Dappen) and range geographi-
cally from the Americas (Marín and Araos; Janke and Bellisario) to Africa (Rochon
et al.). Table 1.1 provides a synopsis of the chapters in this topic.

Table 1.1 Summary of topics per chapter

Chapter Author(s) Topic

2 Davis et al. Wildlife Habitat and Management

3 Medler Forest Fire Modeling

4 Fei et al. Habitat Classification and Management Plans

5 Janke and Bellisario Glaciers, Climate Change and Mountain Hazards

6 Marín and Araos Glacier Inventory and Water Management

7 Merchant and Dappen Wetlands Management and Soil Erosion

8 Zourarakis and Lee Watershed Imperviousness and Land Cover Change

9 Tu Urbanization and Water Quality

10 Czajkowski et al. Human Health and Biosolids Management

11 Rochon et al. Human Health and Environmental Applications