Development and application of global databases: considerable progress,but more collaboration needed

Abstract

This paper reviews the development of international collaboration in the availability of global data and processing abilities in the environmental field, beginning in 1957 with tie pioneering activities of the World Data Centres. Considerable progress has been made, particularly through the availability of satellite data, but there are considerable shortcomings in these achievements, arising from the isolated nature of many developments, the difficulties of integrating different sources and weaknesses in the top-down approach. There are now attempts to develop a complementary bottom-up approach, notably through the Global Change Diskette Project Developments in hardware, such as the widespread availability of compatible personal computers operating on MS-DOS and UNIX systems; and easier storage on compact disks, and in software, through access to low-cost and public-domain software such as GRASS and IDRISI, are helping but improved collaboration is needed, in which existing institutions such as the World Data Centers have a major part to play.