"Geographic data and information is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as data and information having an implicit or explicit association with a location relative to Earth (a geographic location or geographic position)."
An overview of spatial information and its use in remote sensing, including the properties of spatial resolution and the types of spatial data available.
Remote Sensing: Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects or areas from a distance, typically from aircraft or satellites.
GIS: Geographic Information System (GIS) is a framework for gathering, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial data.
Aerial Photography: Aerial photography is the process of capturing images of the Earth's surface using cameras mounted on aircraft.
Satellite Imagery: Satellite imagery refers to photographs of the Earth from space that offer a detailed view of the planet's geography.
Topographic Mapping: Topographic mapping is a technique for representing the Earth's surface features in three dimensions.
Global Positioning System (GPS): GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that can locate a user's position with high accuracy.
Digital Elevation Models (DEMs): DEMs are digital representations of the Earth's surface topography, providing information on elevation, slope, and terrain.
Land Use/Land Cover Classification: Land use/land cover classification is a technique for categorizing and mapping land use activities and features.
Hyperspectral Imaging: Hyperspectral imaging is a technique for capturing and analyzing hundreds of wavelengths of light to reveal subtle differences in surface characteristics.
LiDAR: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is a technology that uses lasers to measure distances and create detailed maps of the Earth's surface.
Radar imagery: Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) imagery uses radio waves to detect and map objects on the Earth's surface.
Natural resources management: Spatial information can be used to help manage natural resources such as forests, water resources, and wildlife.
Climate change analysis: Spatial information can be used to assess the impacts of climate change on the Earth's surface, such as the melting of glaciers or rising sea levels.
Geology and mineral exploration: Spatial information can be used in geology and mineral exploration by identifying features such as faults or mineral deposits.
Agriculture: Spatial information can be used in agriculture to monitor crop growth and yield, predict weather conditions, and optimize farming practices.
Emergency management: Spatial information can be used in emergency management to plan for and respond to natural disasters such as floods or wildfires.
Urban planning: Spatial information can be used in urban planning to analyze demographic patterns, plan infrastructure, and identify areas for development.
Transportation: Spatial information can be used in transportation planning to analyze traffic patterns, optimize routes, and identify areas for infrastructure improvements.
Oceanography: Spatial information can be used in oceanography to study ocean currents, salinity levels, and the distribution of sea life.
Environmental monitoring: Spatial information can be used in environmental monitoring to identify pollution sources, monitor air and water quality, and track wildlife populations.
Optical imagery: This type of imagery is obtained using sensors that capture visible light and other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is used in applications such as land use/cover mapping, vegetation monitoring, and coastline mapping.
Thermal imagery: This type of imagery captures infrared radiation emitted by objects on Earth's surface. It is used in applications such as temperature monitoring, wildfire detection, and geothermal exploration.
Radar imagery: This type of imagery uses radio waves to penetrate through clouds and vegetation. It is used in applications such as mapping of forests, monitoring of sea ice, and detection of landslides.
LiDAR data: This type of data is obtained using laser sensors that measure distance between the sensor and the ground. It is used in applications such as topographic mapping, vegetation mapping, and 3D modeling.
Hyperspectral imaging: This technology captures detailed information on the reflectance of different wavelengths of light. It is used in applications such as mineral exploration, crop health monitoring, and detecting marine pollution.
Magnetic data: This type of data is obtained using sensors that detect variations in Earth's magnetic field. It is used in applications such as mineral exploration, mapping of geological structures, and locating buried objects.
Gravimetric data: This type of data is obtained using sensors that measure the Earth's gravitational field. It is used in applications such as mapping of underground structures, locating mineral deposits, and monitoring groundwater resources.
GPS data: This technology provides accurate location information. It is used in applications such as mapping of transportation networks, monitoring of natural disasters, and tracking wildlife movements.
Aerial photography: This type of data is obtained using cameras mounted on aircraft. It is used in applications such as mapping of urban areas, monitoring of crop growth, and assessing damage caused by natural disasters.
Satellite imagery: This type of data is obtained using sensors mounted on orbiting satellites. It is used in applications such as monitoring of weather patterns, assessing changes in land use/cover, and monitoring of ocean currents.
"It is also called geospatial data and information, georeferenced data and information, as well as geodata and geoinformation."
"Approximately 90% of government sourced data has a location component."
"Location information (known by the many names mentioned here) is stored in a geographic information system (GIS)."
"There are also many different types of geodata, including vector files, raster files, geographic databases, web files, and multi-temporal data."
"Spatial data or spatial information is a broader class of data whose geometry is relevant but is not necessarily georeferenced, such as in computer-aided design (CAD), see geometric modeling."