Decision Making Based on Earth Observation Technology

Abstract

Spatial data derived from earth observation are applied in domains as varied as agriculture, environmental resource management, territorial planning, etc. They are used to learn about the environment and to assist in making management decisions. Earth observation has been widely used in China (Chen 1999). Disaster monitoring and evaluation based on remote sensing has played an increasingly important role in the government’s emergency management. In response of the Wenchuan Earthquake, high resolution imagery was used for geological hazard monitoring, influence evaluation and loss statistics. There are severe flood hazards in southern China each summer, leading to the establishment of the data exchange center for monitoring and evaluating the flood hazards in related governmental sectors. The remote sensing data and the monitoring results can be automatically uploaded to the information system for decision makers. Large scale management and dynamic monitoring of natural resources and ecosystems have been implemented in China under the support of quantitative remote sensing and GIS techniques. This chapter presents the working experiences of China in response to unexpected disaster events, evaluation of seasonal hazards and dynamic monitoring of natural resources.