Geographic Information Systems Applications in Natural Resource Management

1. What is GIS? Links Data To Location

Geographic Information System (GIS):
Links data with geographic location and present it visually Lets us display, explore, query and analyze spatially referenced data. Supports identification and analysis of trends, patterns and relationships not easily spotted in textual data. Helps solve complex problems that involve a geographic component. Its multifunctional capability makes it a powerful tool.
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What is Natural resources?

Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified (natural) form Natural resources are often classified into renewable and non-renewable resources.

GIS in Natural Resource Management

GIS is a vital tool in natural resources management. The various aspects of resource management is it supports storage and retrieval of data, interpretation and analysis of data, and development of the Resource Management Plans. GIS is used to evaluate each in terms of environmental impact, economic implications, and potential use conflict. GIS simulations can be used to understand the direct and indirect effects of human activities over long periods of time and over large areas

Natural Resource Management

Habitat analysis Environmental assessment Pest/disease outbreaks Impervious surface mapping Lake monitoring Hydrology Landuse - Landcover monitoring Mineral province Geomorphology Geology

Why GIS and natural resources?

The origins of modern day GIS are with initial databases that described natural resource conditions Managing natural resources is a complicated business and GIS is particularly well suited as a mapping and analytical tool to support management decision-making

Software and hardware developments have brought GIS to the desktop of many natural resource personnel Technological developments (GPS, LiDAR, Satellite imagery) make spatial data availability much more affordably and readily than in the past Educational opportunities for GIS and related tools training is now widely available

Ojectives:
1. To define existing natural and manmade features and their interactions to develop conservation maps in GIS and study their spatial distribution vis-a-vis the existing geological features 2. To define the sustainable locations for quarrying of aggregates and dredging of natural sand and to quantify the sources 3 To apply these quantities in a program for Natural assets management for long-term planning of available natural resources 4 pportunities for strengthening GIS technology and applications within natural resource management organizations, and 5 Current and potential technological developments that might promote or hinder the advancement of GIS as an effective problemsolving tool.

GIS Application in NRM

Identify, Classify and Qualify a Natural Resource Protect and Manage a Natural Resource Change detection Suitability analysis Scenario study Impact assessment Environmental impact analysis Disaster management and mitigation

Area of GIS Application in Natural Resource Management

Forest: annual timber inventory, update, road inventory, maintenance,
classify, update, water classify, update, zone plan/update

Water resources: monitoring site mapping, watershed, discharge,

waste disposal facility mapping, spatial analysis; wetland, landfill

Fishery & wildlife: dams, species inventory, gps data organize,

habitat, spatial pattern/temporal trend

Air quality: monitoring site maps DTR/Public safety : set-E911/indian island access, Rezlot
automation, assignment aside

Housing: lot/background element info, site plan for land development Maintenance: Trust land route inventory, mapping

Software/Programs:
Geographic Information systems software: ArcGIS 9 Quantity surveying software Databases: MS, Excel

REMOTE SENSING
Remote Sensing is the science and art of obtaining information about an object, area, or phenomenon. This is done through the analysis of data acquired by a device that is not in contact with the object, area, or phenomenon under investigation. Remote sensing now includes photography, radar, lasers, and sonar and thus provides information with unique and valuable characteristics.

Remote Sensing in Natural Resource Management

Remote sensing provides an opportunity to view or analyze natural resources in inaccessible areas
Simple aerial photographic techniques have been used to establish baselines for comparative environmental analysis, develop an awareness of subtle long term environmental effects,identify indicators of environmental change, and provide a new source of data for environmental planning and management

Examples of Applications of Remote Sensing in NRM

Use for the monitoring of food production on essentially a global basis remote sensing is especially significant in optmizing fish production Remote sensing information, collected through RADARSAT data, contributes to the mapping and monitoring of surface water resources Remote sensing has many useful applications in agriculture.It is used to assess crop type classification, crop condition assessment, and crop yield estimation and to map soil

 Radar data collected by satellite are also useful to monitor drought or flooding events that can severely impact crop productivity This information is valuable to decision makers and analysts within government agencies,grain marketing bodies, agricultural retailers, and insurance companies. GIS and Remote Sensing have a degree of mutuality. GIS provides a means for increasing the utility of remote sensed data. New information can be regularly updated.

Distributing GIS capabilities to field offices

The traditional model of GIS use in organizations was a centralized office that would attempt to provide GIS services and support for all parts of the organization Problems with this model:
Accessibility Timeliness Communication

Todays trend: the distributed model

Limitations:
1. This study needs a further refinement and implementation at county levels so that the individual data could be integrated to provide a statewide resource status. 2. The current study is limited by the accuracy of the available databases and maps. For a further improvement in the accuracy of predictions more accurate and precise spatial data would be required. 3. The current study was limited by the availability of tools in the ArcGIS software. For a better spatial analysis better softwares would be required.

Conclusions
1. The current study showed that It was possible to define natural and manmade features and their interactions using GIS. This study leads to development of such interactions. It was also possible to define sustainable locations for quarrying of aggregates dredging of natural sand and the quantification of sources. These quantities could further be applied to develop long term planning and policy making for sustainability. A phased resources allocation plan could be developed for staggered selection and usage of materials. Moreover facility planning and management could also be assisted by such maps Knowledge on the spatial dimensions could help to prioritize development actions and helps also to pursue policy makers

2. 3. 4.