GIS gets involved in area assessment
Topographically, such areas are considered to be roads, roof tops, paved areas and other features of urban sprawl. An EU funded project DAYWATER undertook the task of remotely assessing what is termed as an impervious area and the threat they pose. Understanding the nature of surface material is an important factor in determining threat levels during rainy seasons. These figures would be needed to develop an effective and accurate source and flux model (SFM) for predictive purposes. Field tests can be used to determine impervious areas, but in many cases, getting to private properties or rooftops may be difficult. A more effective method was needed. Remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) were deployed as an alternative to this drawback and the project developed a report based on its findings. The report initially provides a brief introduction about the concepts involved, what need there is for GIS monitoring of impervious areas and identifying the material involved. Another section of the report reviews the state-of-the-art in remote sensing and also general methods that can be used independently of local resources such as databases. The desired outcome of this research and the use of GIS are likely to enable a greater understanding of threat management and to provide policy makers with a viable assessment tool to formulate policy. The research is still in its basic stages, requiring further research and development support.
