Peer-Reviewed Articles
1185 Decision Support System for Flood Risk Analysis for the River
Thames, United Kingdom
Richard Sanders and Shigeko Tabuchi
Abstract
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The development of a decision support system for flood plain risk assessment
and its applications and benefits are examined. The paper focuses
on an application in the insurance industry and describes the use
of airborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR) map
products data in the development of a large-scale flood risk assessment
system for the River Thames in the United Kingdom. Airborne radar
technology was originally developed for military applications. In
recent years, applications in telecommunications, oil exploration,
and agriculture have proven that radar technology can also be used
commercially. The innovative use of digital elevation model (DEMs)
and orthorectified radar image (ORI) map products derived from IFSAR
for flood risk assessment is discussed in the context of other risk
assessment methodologies and techniques. The wider applications of
this technology are considered for any organization exposed to flood
risk.
1195 A Decision Support Information System for Urban Landscape Management
Using Thermal Infrared Data
Dale A. Quattrochi, Jeffrey C. Luvall, Douglas L. Rickman, Maurice G. Estes,
Jr., Charles A. Laymon, and Burgess F. Howell
Abstract
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Efforts to use remote sensing data within the purview of an information support
system, to assess urban thermal land-scape characteristics as a means for
developing more robust models of the urban heat-island (UHI) effect are described.
We also present a rationale on how we have successfully translated the results
from the study of urban thermal heating and cooling regimes as identified
from remote sensing data, to decision-makers, planners, government officials,
and the public at large in several U.S. cities to facilitate better understanding
of how the UHI affects air quality. Additionally, through the assessment
of the spatial distribution of urban thermal landscape characteristics using
remote sensing data, it is possible to develop strategies to mitigate the
UHI that hopefully will, in turn, drive down ozone levels and improve overall
urban air quality.
Four U.S. cities have been the foci for intensive analyses as part of our studies: Atlanta, Georgia; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Sacramento, California. The remote sensing data for each of these cities has been used to generate a number of products for use by "stakeholder" working groups to convey information on what the effects are of the UHI and what measures can be taken to mitigate them. In turn, these data products are used to both educate and inform policy-makers, planners, and the general public about what kinds of UHI mitigation strategies are available.
1209 Multi-Attribute Vegetation Maps of Forest Service Lands in California Supporting
Resource Management Decisions
Janet Franklin, Curtis E. Woodcock, and Ralph Warbington
Abstract
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Vegetation databases (digital maps) for USDA Forest Service lands in California
(approximately 10 million ha) have been developed over the last decade using
remote sensing and GIS methods. The databases are intended to support national
and regional land-cover inventory and monitoring, interagency conservation
and fire risk assessment, and wildlife habitat evaluation, as well as more
traditional uses including land management planning and forest inventory
within each National Forest. The digital maps are fine-scale relative to
their extent, being derived from 30-m-resolution Landsat Thematic Mapper
(TM) data and digital elevation models (DEMs). Map attributes included a
vegetation life form class, a vegetation type, and canopy cover and size
class estimates for forested polygons. Land-cover and vegetation type labels
were more accurate than forest structure estimates. However, the mapping
methodology is not static. New remote sensing data and analysis methods offer
some promise to improve map attribute estimation. The database is being provided
by the Forest Service to agency personnel, cooperators, and the public.
1219 Testing Components Toward a Remote-Sensing-Based Decision Support System
for Cotton Production
Richard Campanella
Abstract
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American cotton producers face rising production costs, falling prices, minimal
yield increases, and increased competition from overseas markets and artificial
fibers. Many producers are looking toward technology to gain an advantage
in the only two variables that are within their control: reducing production
costs and increasing yield. ITD-Spectral Visions and the NASA Commercial
Remote Sensing Program are working with cotton producers Kenneth Hood of
Perthshire Farms, Mississippi and Jay Hardwick of Newellton, Louisiana to
test remote sensing and precision-agriculture technologies to solve some
of these problems, with the eventual goal of integrating successful techniques
into a Decision Support System (DSS) for cotton production. Components of
the envisioned DSS currently being tested through field experiments include
variable-rate seeding, spatially variable insecticide, spatially variable
plant-growth regulator, variable-rate nitrogen, and others. The objective
of these tests is to reduce costs and/or increase yield in an economically
feasible manner. The eventual goal-integration of these and other components
into a DSS-may occur only after the components are field-tested to show positive
and repeatable results that justify the costs of such a system.
1229 Semantic Modeling and Decision Support in Hydrology
Sudha Ram, Vijay Khatri, Yousub Hwang, and Stephen R. Yool
Abstract
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The current revolution in interconnectivity and online availability of Earth
science data has enabled hydrology end users to access a wide variety of
Earth science data through the World Wide Web (WWW). However, these distributed
data sources have various data formats and numerous spatial and temporal
resolutions, which limits the usability of the available datasets. In this
paper, we describe how we have applied semantic modeling and ontology to
achieve context-based information integration. We are developing a Hydrology
Decision Support System (HyDSS), a prototype state-of-the-art web-based decision
support system that provides a comprehensive environment for information
integration and analysis. HyDSS is a part of the Hydrology Information System
(HyDIS), an overall information system to support the requirements of hydrologic
end users. It is aimed at supporting the entire decision-making process of
hydrological end users, i.e., it helps in information collation and can provide
an interface to third-party modeling and simulation tools.
1241 Capturing and Modeling Geographic Object Change: A SpatioTemporal Gazetteer
Framework
Peggy Agouris, Kate Beard, Georgios Mountrakis,
and Anthony Stefanidis
Abstract
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A SpatioTemporal Gazetteer as a model to manage change information at the geographic
entity instance level is presented. The Gazetteer framework links an image
repository, that is the source of change information, to instances of geographic
entities, and is change specific to these instances. The ability to quickly
detect and extract change from image data is an essential component of the
model. The paper also presents a modified template matching function used
to detect change, and describes the association of this function with the
spatiotemporal gazetteer. The change detection function embedded within the
spatiotemporal gazetteer creates a foundation for up-to-date geospatial information
and change information that can serve rapid-response decision-making applications.
1251 Remote-Sensing-Enhanced Outreach Education as a Decision Support System
for Local Land-Use Officials
Chester L. Arnold, Jr., Daniel L. Civco, Michael P. Prisloe, Jr., James D.
Hurd, and Joel W. Stocker
Abstract
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Technological advances in remote-sensing (RS) science and cultural changes
brought about by the "digital revolution" are combining to bring the worlds
of remote sensing and land-use planning closer together. The University of
Connecticut is engaged in a series of three projects that investigate RS-based
decision support systems (DSS) for local land-use officials. The NEMO Project
is focused on town-level decisions, the Connecticut River Watersheds Project
is focused on watershed-level decisions, and the NAUTILUS Project is working
on specific tools addressing urban sprawl. Each DSS is built upon a delivery
system of professional outreach educational programs, based on RS information,
and enhanced through the use of geographic information systems (GIS). A review
of this work demonstrates that, when integrated with applications and outreach
to form tailored decision support systems, RS information can be a powerful
force in assisting local officials to plan better the growth of their communities.
1261 Web-Based Decision Support Tool for Floodplain Management Using High-Resolution
DEM
Ramanathan Sugumaran, Curt Davis, Jim Meyer, Tony Prato, and Chris
Fulcher
Abstract
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A Web-based decision support or advisory tool that allows developers, planners,
and other local government decision makers to utilize a high-resolution digital
elevation model (DEM) and floodplain-related geographical information system
(GIS) data layers in making floodplain management decisions is described.
The tool was developed using data for a small subdivision in St. Charles
County, Missouri, which is one of the fastest growing counties in the Midwest.
A high-resolution DEM was generated using digitally scanned National Aerial
Photograph Program (NAPP) photos in conjunction with highly accurate ground
control from a rapid-static Global Positioning System (GPS) survey. Design
and development of the Web-technology utilized ArcView GIS(r) and Internet
Map Server, Java, JavaScript, HTML, and Avenue programming. This Web-based
interface allows local users to interactively display and query different
floodplain-related GIS layers. Important applications include determining
whether a parcel is within or outside the current FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency) 100-year floodplain and determining the elevation of a
particular point. This paper also discusses the limitations and future direction
of the present prototype.
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