Q. What is environmental monitoring?

Briefly describe three major technologies involved in

environmental monitoring.
Environmental Monitoring: Monitoring has been defined as observing, detecting, or recording the
operation of a system; watching closely for purposes of control and surveillance.
Monitoring is a systematic observation of parameters related to a specific problem, designed to provide
information on the characteristics of the problem and their changes with time.
Environmental monitoring describes the process and activities that characterize and monitor the quality
of the environment.

Various tools and techniques have developed for environmental monitoring:

1. Remote sensing
2. Global Navigation satellite System
3. Geographic Information System
4. GPS
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about an object without direct contact with the
object.
Two types of remote sensing instruments-
i. passive and
ii. active
Passive sensors gather radiation that is emitted or reflected by the object. Reflected sunlight is the most
common source of radiation measured by passive sensors. Passive remote sensors include film
photography, infrared, charged-coupled devices and radiometer.
On the other hand active sensor emits energy in order to scan objects and measures the radiation that is
reflected or backscattered from the target. Location, speed and direction of the objects are measured by
the time delay between emission and return of the radiation. RADAR and LiDAR are the active remote
sensing.
Remote sensing is a critical tool for environmental monitoring. It can be used for-
1. water logging and salinity
2. Water source management and change detection
3. Forest resources management and change detection
4. Coastal resources mapping and monitoring
5. Mangrove forest monitoring
6. Hazard impacts assessment and management
7. Environmental impact assessment
Global Navigation satellite System

A satellite navigation system provides autonomous geo spatial positioning. It allows small electronic
receivers to determine their location (longitude, latitude and altitude) to high precision using time
signals transmitted from the satellites. The signals also allow the electronic receivers to calculate the
current local time to high precision, which allows time synchronization. A satellite navigation system
with global coverage may be termed a global navigation satellite system (GNSS).
GNSS can be used for integrating satellite remote sensing and global navigation satellite system. GNSS
could be used for coastal management plans. These technologies could be used to locate erosion prone
areas caused by variation in shore position.

GIS
Geographic information system is system for capturing, storing, interpreting, analyzing and displaying
geographically related information/data.
Integration of GIS with the other technologies help to prepare a location based environmental geo-
database. Storing, analyzing and representing environmental database GIS can handle a large amount of
different kinds of data and organize these data into topics or themes that represent the multiple aspect of
complex environmental issues.
Elements are:
Hardware: Computer system, Scanner, Printer, Plotter, Flat Board.
Software: MapInfo, ARC/Info, AutoCAD Map.
Data: A GIS will integrate spatial data with other data resources. Geographic data and related tabular
data can be collected in-house or purchased from commercial data provider.
People: GIS users range from technical specialists who design and maintain.
Method: The map creation can either be automated raster to vector creator or it can be manually
victories using the scanned images.

Q. What is Global Positioning System? Briefly describe its various components.

The Global Positioning System is a satellite based navigation system consisting of more than 20
satellites and several supporting ground facilities, which provides accurate, three dimensional position
everywhere in the world and in all weather condition.
GPS operates using radio signals sent from satellites orbiting the earth.
Global Positioning System consists of three main components:
1. Satellite (space segment)
 2. Receivers (user segment)
3. Ground station (control segment)

GPS satellite: GPS satellites orbit at 17,440 km altitude, each orbit lasting 12 hours. The orbits are tilted
to the equator by 550 to ensure coverage the Polar Regions. The satellites are powered by solar cells.
Each satellite contains four atomic clocks.

GPS receivers: GPS receivers are the devices used by the people to determine the location. To
determine the location GPS receiver calculates the distance from the receiver to the satellite. Three
satellite signals are needed to determine exact position of an object on the earth’s surface.

GPS Ground control station: The ground control component includes the master control station at
Falcon Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado and monitor stations at Falcon AFB, Hawaii,
Ascension Island in the Atlantic, Diego in the Indian Ocean and Kwajalein Island in the South Pacific.
The control segment also ensures that GPS satellite orbits remain within limits and that the satellites do
not drift too far from the nominal orbit.

Q. Compare and contrast Vector and Raster GIS Data Models.

Vector Data Model: Real world entities represented by a set of coordinates and associated attributes.
Types of vector objects:
1. Point
2. Line
3. Polygon
Raster Data Model: Real world entities represented by a set of cells in the grid pattern with associated
attributes. Typically square & evenly spaced in X & Y direction.

Raster vs. Vector

Raster Vector
Data Structure Usually simple Usually complex
Storage requirements Large for most data set Small for most data set
Coordinate conversion May be slow depending on size Simple
of data set
Analysis Easy for continuous data, simple Preferred for network analyses,
for many layer combination complex for other spatial
operations
Positioning precision Floor set by pixel size Limited only by quality of
positional measurements
Accessibility Easy to modify Often complex
Display and output Good for images not for discrete Map like, poor for images
features

Advantages and disadvantages for Vector and Raster Data Model:

Vector Data model
Advantages:
1. Useful for analysis tasks that require accurate positioning.
2. For defining spatial relationship between coverage features (topography), important for such
purposes as network analysis.
Disadvantage:
1. The boundaries of the resulting map polygons are discrete (enclosed by a well-defined boundary
lines), whereas reality the map polygons may represent continuous gradient or gradual change, as
in soil map.
Raster Data Model
Advantage:
1. Good for representing indistinct boundaries-thematic information on soil types, soil moisture,
vegetation, ground temperature.
2. The information (scanned images) can be directly incorporated into GIS.
3. The higher the grid resolution, the larger the data file.

Q. What is GIS? Discuss the potential applications of GIS and remote sensing in the various field
of Bangladesh.
GIS: A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing,
managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.
GIS stores information about the world as a collection of themed layers that can be used together. A
layer can be anything that contains similar features such as customers, buildings, streets, lakes, or postal
codes.
Three Views of a GIS
A GIS is most often associated with a map. A GIS can provide more problem-solving capabilities than
using a simple mapping program.
A GIS can be viewed in three ways:
1. The Database View
2. The Map View
3. The Model View

Common fields and activities of GIS technique with concerned organizations:

Field of Activities Organizations

applications

Agriculture Monitoring, evaluation and management BARC, SRDI, MOA

Environment Monitoring, modeling and management for land SPARRSO, EGIS,

degradation; weather and climate modeling, prediction SWMC, DOE, MOA,
and forecasting; river and coastal erosion modeling; CARE
flood management

Health Areal distribution of different diseases in relation to ICDDR,B; DPHE

environmental factors

Forestry Management, planning; map prepare for site specific DOF

matching

Regional/Local Development of plans, maintenance, management; Rajuk, DLRS,

planning infrastructure development programme, Land SPARRSO, LGED,
Registration CARE

Research and Different sites problem solution from personal to Educational institutions
education national level and Consultant
Organisations

Resource Management, planning, monitoring, recording SPARRSO, DOF,

BCAS, EGIS, LGED
 Social studies Demographic trends and developments analysis BBS, Educational
institutions

Transport Planning and management RHD, LGED, SOB

network

Use of Remote Sensing and GIS

1. Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing (SPARRSO): is the focal point of space and
remote sensing activities in the country. Though the remote sensing activities mainly aerial photography,
were initiated in Bangladesh area in 1930’s and 1940s – for water resources studies, cartographic
mapping and forest inventory purposes.
These facilities are used as follows:
1. Cyclone warning and flood forecasting in collaboration with Bangladesh Meteorological
Department (BMD) and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) using their
conventional data / information and field observations. These were very useful for the
devastating and unprecedented floods of 1987 and 1988 and cyclones of 1991 (138,000
killed): in these efforts the role of space sciences and remote sensing is praiseworthy.
2. Damage assessments, rehabilitation and reconstruction works after any disaster are
undertaken by Public Works Department (PWD) Bangladesh Local Government Engineering
Department (BLGED), Port Authorities, etc and they use space information/data and GIS
techniques in association with SPARRSO for development planning and infrastructure built
up activities.
2. Survey of Bangladesh: Use space imagery and aerial photographs for updating of topographic maps
(Topo sheets) at scales of 1:250,000 and 1:500,000 and also at larger scales for project area mapping
depending on the request of the operational agencies.
3. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Soil Resource Development Institute
(SRDI) and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB): RS-GIS is being used by these
agencies for the planning and management of land capability and suitability, ecological zoning, water
resources management etc.
4. Departments of Forests (DOF) and Environment (DOC): RS-GIS is being used of these agencies
forest resources management and environmental monitoring purposes.
5. Universities: RS-GIS for education and training at different levels and on the job training for the
officials of the operation departments are used. This is a continuous process and having more
interactions with the operation agencies.
6. Non-governmental Organizations and private sectors: In Bangladesh, NGO’s and private sectors
are also using RS-GIS for various purposes of project planning and development activities.

Q. What are Spatial Data Infrastructures? Briefly describe the activities of GSDI.

Spatial data infrastructures (SDIs) are the fundamental spatial datasets, the standards that enable
integration, the distribution networks that provide access, the policies and administrative principles that
ensure compatibility, the people including users, providers, and value adders, at each level; local through
to state, national, regional and global.
Spatial data is vital to making sound decisions in Disaster management, response and recovery.

GSDI Association

The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI) is an inclusive organization promoting
international cooperation and collaboration in support of local, national and international spatial data
infrastructure developments that will allow nations and their citizens to better social, economic, and
environmental issues of pressing importance.

Activities of GSDI Association in support of global disaster management initiatives

Emergency Response and Recovery Readiness

Even in large wealthy nations, local communities are told that they should not expect substantial direct
delivery of goods and services from national or international relief agencies for at least 72 hours after a
major widespread disaster. Thus local communities must be prepared to rely on their own public and
private emergency response and management systems in that most critical of time periods immediately
after a disaster occurs. If the components of a spatial data infrastructure are in place and are in use on a
daily basis by local users for accomplishing mapping, vehicle routing, asset management, service
delivery and similar tasks, then the information infrastructure is much more likely to be available and
useful for accomplishing similar tasks during a calamity.

GSDI Conferences

One of the principal activities of the association is to provide a GSDI Conference for SDI-related
professionals, scientists, and applications, on a regular basis to share and exchange ideas.

Small Grants Program

Nations with the few economic resources suffer much in the event of a natural or human made disaster.
The GSDI Association supports an annual small grants program to support national or sub-national
activities that foster partnerships, develop technical capacity, improve data compatibility and access, and
increase political support for spatial data infrastructure. Priority is given to projects in developing
nations and countries with economies in transition.

Developing Partnerships and Spreading Knowledge

GSDI provides a global venue for networking, communicating and learning among its members.
Through the Geographic Information Knowledge Networks (GIK Network) GSDI enhances
communications and sharing among geospatial specialists and organizations from all nations and for the
global geographic information community.

Open Access to Data, Tools and Learning Materials

The GSDI Association and its members promote open access to spatial data as well as to educational
materials in how to use geospatial technologies and establish SDI. In order to support learning, all past
books developed by the GSDI Association have been published using open access licenses, the articles
are openly published on the web.