Incorporating Remotely Sensed Data and Information in GIScience

Description of the research

The science and technology of remotely-acquired data and information, often termed remote sensing, is a research theme that offers new potential for research and development in many innovative directions. In the last five years, this area has undergone a true revolution in the number and type of sensors, data availability, potential new applications, and governmental and commercialization activities. There has been a massive increase in our ability to acquire radiometrically sensitive, geospatially-referenced sensor data from aircraft, satellite and undersea instrument platforms. Furthermore, new innovations in sensor systems are being developed to exploit various types of acoustic and electromagnetic (EM) data, including interferometric radar, infrared detector arrays, thermal, LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging), and other laser illumination techniques. Many new sensors are being developed that acquire EM data in novel ways, such as the acquisition of hundreds of narrow band spectra, termed hyperspectral remote sensing.

The wide range of uses for remotely-acquired data is changing as well. In the past, most research efforts were on terrestrial landscapes, but the structure and composition of the atmosphere and hydrosphere of the Earth are being recognized as increasingly important to the quality of life and survival of humans. The submerged portions of our planet (71% of the Earth's total surface) are the focus of recent development of sophisticated sensors for ocean data collection and management.These sensors hold tremendous potential for mapping and interpreting the ocean environment in unprecedented detail.

Importance to the Nation

The increased capabilities of sensing from remote aerial and satellite platforms have increased the potential for surveillance that impinges on the constitutional rights of individual privacy. In a broader context, the transparency of remotely-acquired data across national borders has major policy implications that need to be recognized and analyzed.

Proposed research projects:

1. Encourage UCGIS research into the methods by which advances in sensor systems, data sources and analysis procedures can be utilized with the other capabilities of geographic information science: global positioning systems (GPS), measuring systems, visualization, data mining, real-time geographic information systems (GIS) and other geospatial scientific advancements.
2. Develop a UCGIS-based research capacity as an unbiased evaluator of new sensor technologies and comparative data analyses. This is needed to insure that informed use and procurement keep pace with the technological advancements.
3. Provide a structure for UCGIS members to increase their involvement in research associated with new sensors, digital sensor calibration and sensor data systems.
4. Assess the social, legal and policy implications of new sensor surveillance capabilities as they relate to individual rights of privacy, social adjustments and global transparency.
5. Encourage the increased use of remote sensing to study our land, oceans, lakes, rivers and the atmosphere of the Earth.
6. Foster the conversion of military remote sensing assets to civilian uses in the environmental, agricultural, natural hazards and other domains.
7. Investigate methods of using one or more existing data sources of modern ancillary geospatial data. to leverage the massive amounts of historical remote sensing data for research on global environmental change.