The use of geographic information systems (GIS) is exploding worldwide in both number and scope. This book outlines the advent of GIS in natural resource management and explores how various data sets are applied to specific areas of study. Topics include spatial and non-spatial domains; multi-scale framework and resource data; environmental, demographic, and economic indicators; and modeling.

"Geographic Information Systems are essential technologies for natural resource management. - Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Natural Resource Management is a comprehensive guide and introduces the GIS tools, techniques, and principles necessary for GIS professionals throughout the world. - "Part one provides an overview of the field, from its historical development and basic principles to some common pitfalls and how to avoid them. - Part two explains in detail the essential GIS operations (querying, buffering, clipping, overlay analysis, etc.). Finally, part three discusses current trends and future challenges. - Every chapter includes extensive application questions, and throughout the book 'In Depth' feature boxes encourage readers to delve deeper into key issues and advanced techniques. - A companion website provides sets of GIS data that readers can use to practice the techniques they have learned."--Jacket.

This title contains chapters written by noted researchers and experts. It brings together the concepts, theories and experiences of experts in the field of geoinformatics in relation to natural resource management.

Stress on natural resources has recently increased due to commercialization and the need to provide livelihoods for locals. Because they are such core parts of everyday life, ensuring sustainability in resource management is of paramount importance. Only by integrating the tools of spatial information science can an effective course for preserving and protecting natural resources be created. Spatial Information Science for Natural Resource Management is a pivotal reference source that explores coordinated approaches to sustainable development and management of natural resources to keep a balance of the environment, ecology, and human livelihood. Featuring coverage on a wide range of topics including crop yield estimation, ecosystem services, and land information systems, this book covers interdisciplinary techniques in monitoring and managing natural resources. This publication is ideally designed for urban planners, environmentalists, policymakers, ecologists, researchers, academicians, students, and professionals in the fields of remote sensing, civil engineering, social science, computer science, and information technology.

These exercises have been developed as part of an Introductory Natural Resource Management GIS Course at Clemson University using ESRI(r) ArcGIS(r) ArcMap software. Data and Laboratory Questions to support these exercises, as is possible, are available on email request ([email protected]) and/or are directly downloadable from the Internet.

This book will be useful both to those new to spatial uncertainty assessment and to experienced practitioners.

Tropical habitats may contain more than a third of the world's plant and animal species; Costa Rica alone is home to one of the highest levels of biodiversity per unit area in the world, and stands at center stage in worldwide conservation efforts. Within such regions, the use of state-of-the-art digital mapping technologies—sophisticated techniques that are relatively inexpensive and accessible—represents the future of conservation planning and policy. These methods, which employ satellites to obtain visual data on landscapes, allow environmental scientists to monitor encroachment on indigenous territories, trace park boundaries through unmarked wilderness, and identify wildlife habitats in regions where humans have limited access. Focusing on the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica, the contributors demonstrate the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to enhance conservation efforts. They give an overview of the spatial nature of conservation and management and the current status of digital mapping in Costa Rica; a review of the basic principles behind digital mapping technologies; a series of case studies using these technologies at a variety of scales and for a range of conservation and management activities; and the results of the Costa Rican gap analysis project. GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies provides powerful tools for those involved in decision-making about the natural environment, particularly in developing nations like Costa Rica where such technologies have not yet been widely adopted. For specialists in such areas as geography, conservation biology, and wildlife and natural resource management, the combination of conceptual background and case examples make the book a crucial addition to the literature.