The Earth Observer


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Landsat's Enduring Legacy


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Comprehensive Remote Sensing


Book Description

Comprehensive Remote Sensing, Nine Volume Set covers all aspects of the topic, with each volume edited by well-known scientists and contributed to by frontier researchers. It is a comprehensive resource that will benefit both students and researchers who want to further their understanding in this discipline. The field of remote sensing has quadrupled in size in the past two decades, and increasingly draws in individuals working in a diverse set of disciplines ranging from geographers, oceanographers, and meteorologists, to physicists and computer scientists. Researchers from a variety of backgrounds are now accessing remote sensing data, creating an urgent need for a one-stop reference work that can comprehensively document the development of remote sensing, from the basic principles, modeling and practical algorithms, to various applications. Fully comprehensive coverage of this rapidly growing discipline, giving readers a detailed overview of all aspects of Remote Sensing principles and applications Contains ‘Layered content’, with each article beginning with the basics and then moving on to more complex concepts Ideal for advanced undergraduates and academic researchers Includes case studies that illustrate the practical application of remote sensing principles, further enhancing understanding




Topographic Mapping


Book Description

This book is addressed to students and professionals, and it is aimed to cover as much as possible the broader region of topographic mapping as it has evolved into a modern field called geospatial information science and technology. More emphasis is placed on using scientific methods and tools materialized in algorithms and software to produce practical results. For this reason, beyond the written material, there are also many educational and professional software programs written by the first author to help comprehend the individual methodologies developed. The Target of this book is to provide the people who work in fields of applications of topographic mapping (environment, geology, geography, cartography, engineering, geotechnical, agriculture, forestry, geointelligence, etc.) a source of knowledge for the broader region so that to help them in facing relevant problems as well as in preparing contracts and specifications for such type of work assigned to professionals and evaluating such contracting results. It also aims to be a reference for theory and practice for professionals in Topographic Mapping. This book applies a didactics method where, with a relatively small effort, someone can digest a large volume of simple or complicated knowledge material at a desirable scientific depth within a relatively short time interval. The objective that educated people must be "smarter than the machine" and not treat the machine as a "black box" being "button pushers" has been achieved through the first author's experience in the USA and Greece, with relative success by adopting this didactics technique. There are 14 chapters, including Reference systems and Projections, Topographic instruments and Geometry of coordinates, Conventional construction of a topographic map, Design and reproduction of a thematic map, Digital Topographic mapping - GIS, Digital Terrain Models (DTM / DEM), GPS/GNSS, methods of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, new technologies LIDAR, IFSAR, Augmented reality, Mapping with UAS/UAV/Drones, the method of Least Squares adjustment, and Description of educational software accompanying the text.




Introduction to Remote Sensing


Book Description

Now in full color, the sixth edition of this leading text features new chapters on remote sensing platforms (including the latest satellite and unmanned aerial systems), agriculture (including agricultural analysis via satellite imagery), and forestry (including fuel type mapping and fire monitoring). The book has introduced tens of thousands of students to the fundamentals of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting remotely sensed images. It presents cutting-edge tools and practical applications to land and water use analysis, natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and more. Each concise chapter is designed as an independent unit that instructors can use in any sequence. Pedagogical features include over 400 figures, chapter-opening lists of topics, case studies, end-of-chapter review questions, and links to recommended online videos and tutorials. New to This Edition *Discussions of Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2; the growth of unmanned aerial systems; mobile data collection; current directions in climate change detection, fire monitoring, and disaster response; and other timely topics. *Additional cases, such as river erosion; the impact of Hurricane Sandy on Mantoloking, New Jersey; and Miami Beach as an exemplar of challenges in coastal communities. *Revised throughout with 60% new material, including hundreds of new full-color figures. *New chapters on remote sensing platforms, agriculture, and forestry.




Earth Observation Applications and Global Policy Frameworks


Book Description

Applying Earth science knowledge to sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and climate action Data and insights from Earth observations are critical for assessing the health of our planet, monitoring change, and addressing societal challenges from the local to the global scale. Earth Observation Applications and Global Policy Frameworks presents case studies of Earth science information integrated with statistics and socioeconomic data for managing development targets, improving disaster resilience, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. It also showcases open collaboration among researchers, United Nations and government officials, entrepreneurs, and the public. Volume highlights include: Case studies of projects working with local and national governments, and through public-private partnerships, to make the most of the large volume of complex and diverse Earth science information sources Applications from diverse disciplines including wetland preservation, food security, water quality, marine conservation, disasters, urbanization, drought and land degradation, and greenhouse gas monitoring Examples of internationally coordinated initiatives that are driving progress on three landmark United Nations agreements Resources for decision-makers and practitioners in local and national governments The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.




Biodiversity Monitoring in Australia


Book Description

Ecological and biodiversity-based monitoring has been marked by an appalling lack of effectiveness and lack of success in Australia for more than 40 years, despite the billions of dollars that are invested in biodiversity conservation annually. What can be done to rectify this situation? This book tackles many aspects of the problem of biodiversity monitoring. It arose from a major workshop held at The Australian National University in February 2011, attended by leaders in the science, policy-making and management arenas of biodiversity conservation. Chapter contributors examine what has led to successful monitoring, the key problems with biodiversity monitoring and practical solutions to those problems. By capturing critical insights into successes, failures and solutions, the authors provide high-level guidance for important initiatives such as the National Biodiversity Strategy. Ultimately, the authors hope to considerably improve the quality and effectiveness of biodiversity monitoring in Australia, and to arrest the decline of biodiversity. KEY FEATURES * Engaging style * Practical information that is based on very high quality scientific information




Sustaining Forest Ecosystems


Book Description

Forest ecosystems include a great variety of communities of organisms interacting with their physical environment: multi-aged natural forests, even-aged monocultures, and secondary forests invaded by foreign species. The challenge is to sustain their ability to function, by adapting to changing climates and satisfying a multitude of human demands. Our first chapter sets the scene with a discussion about the effects of forest management on ecosystem services. Details about forest observational infrastructures are introduced in the second chapter. The third chapter presents methods of analysing forest density and structure. Models for estimating the shape and growth of individual forest trees are introduced in chapter 4, models of forest community production in Chapter 5. Methods and examples of sustainable forest design are covered in chapter 6. New scientific contributions continue to emerge as we are writing, and this work is never finished. We hope to continue with regular updates replacing obsolete sections with new ones, but the general aim remains the same, to introduce a range of methods that will assist those interested in sustaining forest ecosystems.




Congressional Record


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Realising REDD+


Book Description

REDD+ must be transformational. REDD+ requires broad institutional and governance reforms, such as tenure, decentralisation, and corruption control. These reforms will enable departures from business as usual, and involve communities and forest users in making and implementing policies that a ect them. Policies must go beyond forestry. REDD+ strategies must include policies outside the forestry sector narrowly de ned, such as agriculture and energy, and better coordinate across sectors to deal with non-forest drivers of deforestation and degradation. Performance-based payments are key, yet limited. Payments based on performance directly incentivise and compensate forest owners and users. But schemes such as payments for environmental services (PES) depend on conditions, such as secure tenure, solid carbon data and transparent governance, that are often lacking and take time to change. This constraint reinforces the need for broad institutional and policy reforms. We must learn from the past. Many approaches to REDD+ now being considered are similar to previous e orts to conserve and better manage forests, often with limited success. Taking on board lessons learned from past experience will improve the prospects of REDD+ e ectiveness. National circumstances and uncertainty must be factored in. Di erent country contexts will create a variety of REDD+ models with di erent institutional and policy mixes. Uncertainties about the shape of the future global REDD+ system, national readiness and political consensus require  exibility and a phased approach to REDD+ implementation.