Earth observations during space shuttle mission STS‐28 8–13 August 1989

Abstract

The paper presents a geospatial modeling approach for the assessment of plant richness in Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary in Sikkim, a Himalayan State of India located in the “Indo‐Burma” biodiversity hotspot. Remotely sensed data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite IRS‐1C Linear Imaging Self‐Scanner (LISS‐III) and field‐based methods were synergistically used to model plant richness on 1:50,000 scale. It was found that the sanctuary is dominated by East Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest (55.50%), followed by Rhododendron Forest (23.77%), Degraded Forest (6.66%) and Hemlock Forest (0.78%). The vegetation map prepared through digital interpretation of satellite imagery was subjected to landscape analysis and assessment of biotic disturbance in terms of disturbance index. The disturbance index together with species richness, ecosystem uniqueness, total importance value and terrain complexity was modeled to assess the plant richness in this unique sanctuary. Out of the 120 km² of the total geographical area of the sanctuary, 28.45 per cent was found to possess very high plant richness followed by high (50.84%), medium (6.96%) and low richness (13.75%). It was noted that plant richness assessment at ecosystem level presents a more realistic picture than at landscape level. The study demonstrated that remote sensing coupled with landscape analysis, ground inventory data and geospatial modeling holds good potential for rapid and operational assessment of plant richness.     

Earth observations during space shuttle flight STS‐41: Discovery's mission to planet earth

Abstract

Multi‐temporal ERS‐1 SAR data acquired over a large agricultural region in West Bengal was used to classify kharif crops like rice, jute and sugarcane. Rice crop grown under lowland management practice showed a temporal characteristic. The dynamic range of backscatter was highest for this crop in temporal SAR data. This was used to classify rice using temporal SAR data. Such temporal character was not observed for the other study crops, which may be due to the difference in cultivation practice and crop calendar. Significant increase in backscatter from the ploughed fields was used to derive information on onset and duration of land preparations. Synergistic use of optical remote sensing data and SAR data increased the separability of rice crop from homesteads and permanent vegetation classes.     

Earth observations during space shuttle mission STS‐45 mission to planet earth March 24—April 2, 1992

Abstract

The impact of animals upon the landscape, through such actions as trampling, feeding, burrowing, mounding, and dam building, is a topic of interest in university geography classrooms. However, the relatively fine‐scale nature of most such impacts precludes its examination via remote sensing. Nevertheless, remote sensing of many types of animal impact is possible, and in this paper I illustrate several such examples, primarily drawn from free‐access sites on the World Wide Web, using a variety of remote sensing platforms. Instructors of physical geography or resource/land use management courses can thus introduce a variety of remote sensing concepts and imagery types in their classrooms while at the same time examining the role of animals on the landscape.     

Earth observations during space shuttle right STS‐29: Discovery's Voyage to the earth

Abstract

Today's Geography graduates are employed by a diverse set of employers, and the jobs these individuals fill are as varied as the field of Geography itself. Geographers who join corporate workplace teams may need to find common grounds for communication with their business school‐trained colleagues. This cross‐disciplinary study examines the curricula of introductory courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and one of its business counterparts, Accounting Information Systems (AIS), through an analysis of GIS and AIS textbooks. The findings suggest that there are areas in which shared background exists. Introductory information about systems, and an understanding of database architectures are the most likely areas of commonality; depending on which GIS text was used during the geographer's training, the geographer may also share background in such areas as systems analysis, database management systems, and data modeling.     

Earth observations during space shuttle flight STS‐35: Columbia's mission to planet earth,December 2–10, 1990

The article describes methodology of space monitoring of the existing landscapes as it is practised in the CIS (former USSR). Different points of mew are presented concerning environmental monitoring as well as the aspects of its practical organization. The objectives of automation of the ecological data acquisition, storage and processing are also dealt with; necessity of geographic information systems creation is substantiated. Experience gained in the operation of geoinformation systems is considered with plans on geo‐information base development for the needs of geographical and ecological studies of the CIS landscapes. Practical experience with case studies on identifying and mapping the ecological disaster zones is described in the Aral Sea basin and the Kyzyl Kum desert.     

Earth observations during space shuttle flight sts 50: Columbia's mission to planet earth,June 25‐July 9,1992

Abstract

Many universities around the world are actively pursuing or have recently implemented professional graduate programs in geographic information science. However, the number of undergraduate programs focusing on geographic information science is far more limited. This is despite the rapid hiring of GIS faculty and the implementation of undergraduate program “specializations.” At first glance, this fact is surprising given the far greater number of undergraduate institutions. Unfortunately, undergraduate curriculum expansion is significantly more difficult than most graduate level, Master of Science/Arts programs. In particular, university administrators have been quite happy to approve professional Master of Science degree programs, seeing them for the financial stars they often are. Michigan State University created a similar, and now successful, MS‐GISc graduate program in 2000. Beginning in spring of 2003, the department of Geography began pursuing the development of a Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Science. Expanding a traditional curriculum to include a BS‐GISc degree places an entirely different set of programmatic demands on both the department and faculty than the theoretically similar MS program. This paper outlines the challenges of establishing an undergraduate program in GISc, details the solutions employed, and provides recommendations for minimizing or mitigating the associated problems.     

Lightning flash mensuration using video from the space shuttle Columbia (STS‐32)

Abstract

Environmental data are often utilized to guide interpretation of spectral information based on context, however, these are also important in deriving vegetation maps themselves, especially where ecological information can be mapped spatially. A vegetation classification procedure is presented which combines a classification of spectral data from Landsat‐5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and environmental data based on topography and fire history. These data were combined utilizing fuzzy logic where assignment of each pixel to a single vegetation category was derived comparing the partial membership of each vegetation category within spectral and environmental classes. Partial membership was assigned from canopy cover for forest types measured from field sampling. Initial classification of spectral and ecological data produced map accuracies of less than 50% due to overlap between spectrally similar vegetation and limited spatial precision for predicting local vegetation types solely from the ecological information. Combination of environmental data through fuzzy logic increased overall mapping accuracy (70%) in coniferous forest communities of northwestern Montana, USA.