An assessment of information demands for remote sensing and geographic information system technologies : final report

Following a review of A.I.D."s involvement in RS programs and of selected examples of RS and GIS programs of other major donors, the paper presents detailed findings on: (1) developing country demand for RS/GIS information on geology and soils, hydrology and geohydrology, agriculture and livestock, forests and woodlots, ecology, and land planning; and (2) current and planned RS technologies (including a variety of earth resources satellites, environmental satellites, satellite ground receiving stations, and digital image processing systems) and GIS technologies. Key conclusions concern: the value of RS and GIS technologies to A.I.D.; the value of GIS technologies in project design, implementation, and evaluation, as well as the mainly political rather than technical barriers to their adoption; and the demonstrated ability of developing countries to employ both RS and GIS technologies. Recommendations for action by A.I.D., both by itself and in concert with other donors, are presented. Includes references, a list of selected sources of image processing and GIS systems, and explanatory tables and graphs.