GIS, RS & GPS

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based information system that enables storage, management, capture, modeling, manipulation, retrieval, analysis and representation of geographically referenced data. GIS Technologies provide help in organizing huge databases in structure format. GIS allows the viewing and analysis of multiple layers of spatially related information associated with a geographic region/location.

GIS has been used in Environmental application, for example, Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Non-Point Source Pollution Control, Storm Water Management, Watershed Management, Spill Control Planning and Response, Hazardous Material Management, Air Pollution Management and Planning, Wetlands Delineation, Forestry Management, Mining and Geologic Resource Management, and Wildlife Habitat Management.

Remote Sensing (RS)

Remote Sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or area from a distance without physical contact, typically from aircraft or satellite.
Remote Sensing is useful for generating environmental indicators with multi-resolution, multi-scale, multi-spectral, quick appropriate method, unbiased mapping and monitoring of natural resources both in space and time domain. RS provides timely and accurate information on spatial distribution of Land Use, Soil, Elevation, Precipitation, Vegetation, Forest, Geology, Water Resources, and other useful parameters.
RS addresses the impacts of natural resources and socio-economic aspects before, during, end, and post development projects, for example, Hydropower dam constructions.
RS has been used as indicators for natural resources impact parameters such as Surface Runoff, Water Resource Development, Groundwater level/yield, Variety of Irrigated Area, Crop Diversity, Crop yield, Crop intensity, Fodder availability, Afforestation, Deforestation, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Land Use Change, Socio-Economic, and Migration Status.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS Technology has provided an indispensable tool for management of agriculture and natural resources. GPS is a satellite and ground-based radio navigation and locational system that enables the user to determine very accurate locations on the surface of the earth. Simple and Inexpensive GPS units are available with accuracies of 3 to 20 meters, and some more sophisticated precision agricultural systems can obtain centimeter level accuracies.

Application of GIS, GPS and RS

The usage of GIS, GPS, and RS technologies, either individually or combination, span a broad range of applications and degrees of complexity. Simple applications might involve determining the location of sampling sites, plotting maps for use in field, or examining the distribution of soil types in relation to yields and productivity, for example. More complex applications take advantage of the analytical capabilities of GIS and RS software including vegetation classification for predicting crop yield or environmental impacts, modeling of surface water drainage patterns, or tracking animal migration patterns.

Reference

Milla, K. A., Lorenzo, A., & Brown, C. (2005). GIS, GPS, and remote sensing technologies in extension services: Where to start, what to know. Journal of extension, 43(3).

Bhunia, G. S., Dikhit, M. R., Kesari, S., Sahoo, G. C., & Das, P. (2011). Role of remote sensing, geographic bioinformatics system and bioinformatics in kala-azar epidemiology. Journal of biomedical research, 25(6), 373-384.

by Sophal Try
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