Integrating GIS and RS

These days simple image analysis and processing functionality exist in GIS software and some simple GIS functions are available in image processing software. Mostly though, remotely sensed images are processed in image processing software and then imported into a GIS in order to do some spatial analysis.

In the past integration between GIS and RS was a problem as they often had different data structures and formats but many GIS systems will now be able to directly take the image formats that image processing software provides.

Integration for environmental applications

Integration of GIS and RS is very important for environmental applications, particularly in studies using landscape ecological concepts as they require

• data captured from remote sensing (usually after some form of classification has been carried out using image processing software)
  
  
• the functionality provided by GIS to conduct spatial analysis on the data.
  

Two instances of environmental applications are Vegetation mapping and modelling and Spatial habitat arrangements.

How do you think the integration of GIS and RS technologies can help landscape ecologists? Share your ideas in the discussion forum.

also 'Integrating GIS and remote sensing to produce regional vegetation databases: attributes to environmental modelling' http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/conf/SANTA_FE_CD- ROM/sf_papers/franklin_janet/my_paper.html