Geoinformatics for Natural Resource Management

A fundamental requirement of Agenda 21 of UNCED is to support sustainable development while safeguarding the Earth's environment. This requires optimal management of natural resources which depends on the availability of reliable and timely information at the global, national, regional and local scales. One such technology, "Geoinformatics", consisting of Remote Sensing (RS), Geographical Information System (GIS), and Global Positioning System (GPS) is source of reliable and timely information needed for natural resource management, environmental protection and addressing issues related to sustainable development. It offers a powerful tool for resource assessment, mapping, monitoring, modelling, management etc. It is also capable to make use of recent developments in the digital integration of human reasoning, data and dynamic models. These tools have been available for past three decades. Many institutions and organisations are carrying out various research and operational applications of direct relevance particular to natural resource management. However, there are still limitations in understanding the underlying science and research elements, as there are larger questions of capacity building to use geoinformatics in natural resource management and associated sustainable development applications. These programs also find gaps between the theoretical concepts and the operational utilisation of these tools. This could be solved by providing wide range of applications and prospective potential of this technology to the students and research community in this area. "Geoinformatics for Natural Resource Management" contains chapters written by noted researchers and experts. The focus emerged with filling a gap in the available literature on the subject by bringing together the concepts, theories and experiences of the experts in this field.