Adv. Spree Res. Vol. 17.

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THE UNEP EXPERIENCE IN PROMOTING GROUND-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

A. Singh

Environmental Assessment-North America, United Nations Environment Programme, EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57198, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT

This paper describes some of the activities of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the field of applications of remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) technologies in environmental assessment and monitoring. The paper also lists some of the impediments contributing towards low utilization of these technologies in the developing world.

INTRODUCTION

The remarkable developments in space technology and its application during the last three decades have provided important tools to environmental planning, management, and policy making agencies to address issues related to sustainable development more effectively. Earth observing sensor systems on aircraft and spacecraft provide data streams for analyzing environmental issues at varying spatial and temporal scales. The worldwide use of earth observation satellite data is already playing a key role in such vital areas such as weather forecasting, disaster mitigation, crop monitoring, fisheries, forestry, oceanography, ozone depletion, and long-term climate modeling. The results obtained through the use of satellite data have stimulated major environmental policy decisions at various levels (e.g., Montreal Protocol, forest conservation oriented policies in Brazil, India, Philippines, etc.).

Until the last 25-30 years, it was virtually impossible to obtain time series data over large areas due to lack of earth observing systems. Currently, a number of such systems exist which provide data covering almost all parts of the earth on a regular basis. In the near future, more advanced data collection systems are planned by a number of nations which will produce even larger quantities of data to study the planet Earth and its environment. Similarly, improved tools for converting these data to relevant environment and resource policy-oriented information are being developed. Computer and software technologies are accelerating at an advanced rate. Recent advances in computer hardware and software make it possible to process, enhance and analyze large data sets more efficiently. The spectacular growth in information technology is inducing megatrends (i.e., from “centralized systems” to “decentralized systems” and “hierarchical” to “networking”) in the analysis and decision making process.

UNEP ACTIVITIES IN REMOTE SENSING

The various programme areas of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have utilized remote sensing technology since its inception; however, the majority of the activities have been concentrated in the Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) and Global Resource Information Database (GRID). Over the years UNEP’s GEMS and GRID programmes have extensively used remote sensing in their activities and have developed an impressive partnership with major space agencies. The activities generally range from workshops, training, expert support, survey missions and application projects,

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The Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) was created in the form of a Programme Activity Center (GEMS-PAC) in 1975 within UNEP in Nairobi, Kenya. GEMS is a world-wide collective effort to monitor the global environment and make periodic assessments of the health of its constituents. Data are collected through monitoring and assessment activities covering most of the important environmental parameters through a network of cooperative institutions. The GEMS network monitor changes in atmospheric composition and the climate system, freshwater and coastal pollution, air pollution, food contamination, deforestation, ozone layer depletion, the build up of greenhouse gases, acid rain, the extent of global ice cover and many issues related to biological diversity.

Since 1979, GEMS-PAC has been developing the concept of ecological monitoring, in which satellite data, aerial reconnaissance, and ground surveys are used to build up a total picture of the environment. Initially, a study was carried out in Senegal and the results were used to clarify Senegal’s rangeland management problems and help in development planning. The project was later transformed by the UN Sudano-Sahelian office into a nation-wide programme in which GEMS helped Senegal apply ecological monitoring to the country as a whole. The success of the project emphasized the need to develop national monitoring and assessment centers. In Africa, such centers have been set up in a number of countries and a training programme was launched in cooperation with UNITAR, Geneva. The components of such a training programme involved Geographic Information System (GIS), satellite image processing, and creation/distribution of data base using remotely sensed data. In 1990, this scheme was operating only for the African continent and now it has been extended to cover Asia, the Pacific, and South America as well. UNEP, as an Earthwatch activity, is continuing its efforts to establish and maintain Environmental Information System (EIS) capabilities and networks to support the decision making process at national, sub-national, and global levels for sustainable use and development of natural resources.

Environmental monitoring and assessment requires data sets from diverse sources. It is too expensive and time consuming to acquire information about large areas using local survey techniques and conventional station networks. Therefore, new avenues should be explored to provide information through exploitation of relationships among existing data sets (GIS) and using remote sensing technology. A geographic information system (GIS) provides tools to link spatial data bases and attribute data bases. GIS efficiently processes large amounts of spatially registered information. The systems have many functions for manipulating spatial information, including input (digitizing paper map), registration (including map projections), overlay (combining information based on spatial location), analysis (of spatial relationships), and display (map products and statistical summaries).

GRID, the Global Resource Information Database, was established within the framework of GEMS in 1985 to archive and distribute geo-referenced environmental data. GRID is developing a global network of centers which use computer technology to process environmental data and analyze the interaction of environmental variables. GRID cooperating centers are located in Kenya, Switzerland, Thailand, USA, Norway, Japan, Poland, Brazil, New Zealand, Canada, and Western Samoa. The plan is to expand this network in other countries of the world. GRID maintains (in computerized formats) a distributed archive of gee-referenced environmental data acquired by different agencies which may be combined and analyzed using GIS and satellite image processing technology.

Some of the activities of GRID include: tropical forest monitoring and assessment using digital satellite data, production of global atlas and assessment of desertification based on expert assessment and satellite data, assessing the potential for improved management tools for urban areas in developing countries based on high resolution satellite data, study of coastal areas in East Africa using Landsat TM data, development of a global land characteristics data base using low resolution satellite data, and global survey of GIS & IP software systems.

There are a number of on-going activities related to technology transfer and information dissemination for the benefits of developing countries, methodology development, and data set developments using remote sensing technology. GRID cooperating centers in Brazil, Poland, and Norway are playing a significant role in national environmental problem solving using remote sensing and GIS technology. Efforts are underway

The UNEP Experience (WI

to assess the status of the African elephant throughout its range with the help of satellite-baaed positioning technology.

UNEP AND COMMITTEE ON EARTH OBSERVATIONS SATELLITES (CEOS)

CEOS was created in 1984 at the suggestion of the G-7 Economic Summit to provide a forum wherein the users and producers of earth observation satellite data exchange information about programmes, plans, and requirements. The primary objectives are:

. to optimize the benefits of spaceborne observations through cooperation of its members in mission planning and in the development of compatible data products, formats, services, applications, and policies;

. to aid both its members and the international user community by, inter alia, serving as the focal point for international coordination of space-related Earth observations activities, including those related to global change;

. to exchange policy and technical information to encourage complementarity and compatibility among spaceborne Earth observations systems currently in service or development and the data received from them;

?? to address issues of common interest across the spectrum of Earth observations satellite missions.

UNEP is one of the affiliates of CEOS and as such is provided of opportunity of an active participation in defining the nature, scope, and specifications of sensor systems and policies related to earth observing missions.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN REMOTE SENSING

Possible contributions of international agencies in meeting the data and information needs of developing countries include:

?? adding new categories of data/information not available in the country; revising existing data collection systems by improving their accuracy, efficiency, and cost effectiveness;

. altering a part or all of the existing data collection system, wherever appropriate.

Remote sensing can be a valuable tool in supplementing some of these efforts. So far, however, he potential of remote sensing has not been fully exploited to the benefit of developing countries. There are a number of factors contributing towards low utilization of remote sensing data in developing countries. Some of these factors are listed below:

Lack of trained personnel; Lack of appropriate training materials in local languages; High costs of equipment and maintenance combined with lack of capital resources; Availability of high quality, cloud free, geocoded satellite data at an affordable cost; Weakness of data analysis and interpretation methods; Reliance on short-term foreign experts and lack of continuity; Inappropriate and insufficient technology transfer (visual vs. digital image processing); Supply driven approach as opposed to demand driven approach; Inadequate dialogue between decision makers and technical personnel; Promotion of remote sensing technology rather than identification of users need, definition of products and services in accordance with these needs; User gap (users do not appear themselves; any information and output generated must be systematically and continuously promoted);

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ad hoc assessment exercises are frequently performed instead of establishing systematic monitoring capabilities; Assimilation of technology (difficulty of complementing existing information sources with remote sensing); An inverse relationship between usefulness of results and sophistication of tools and techniques; Lack of financial resources to implement results of improved decision-making based on improved information.

Obviously, UNEP or any other agency can not solve all of the problems; nevertheless, these issues should be considered, careMy, in the country capacity building process for a successfid implementation of programmes on the ground.

@Be opinions expressed in the paper anz those of the author alone and do not necessan7y &kct the views of the United Nations Envimnment Pmgramme.)