compilation data which is yet 
another source of spatial data 
for the IPS. GIS technology 
facilitates the storage of and 
access to many types of data. 
With the user demand for spatial 
data products on the increase, 
integration of different data 
sources has become essential in 
the design of IPS. Spatial data 
IPS when interfaced with GIS 
combines cartographic, raster 
image-based, and tabular ancil- 
lary data for many useful 
products. Furthermore, incorpo- 
ration of temporal data into a 
spatial database increases the 
realm of IPS products. 
Technological advances in the IPS 
may be measured in terms of 
advances in the related technol- 
ogies of GIS, satellite remote 
sensing, IAS, photogrammetry, 
multimedia computers and data- 
bases. The current trend in 
computer industry indicates that 
multimedia computer platforms 
will soon become general tools 
for information technology. 
These multimedia computer plat- 
and provide capability to inte- 
grate data, text, images, video 
and voice for potential appli- 
cations. Incorporation of such a 
multimedia in IPS will enable the 
use, manipulation and  presen- 
tation of both static and dynamic 
spatial data. 
2.2 Institutional issues 
The process of technology accep- 
tance in any field is complex, 
and research results often 
require several years to be 
adopted in practical applications 
or operations. Although the 
technologies involved in the IPS 
are well established, their 
integration in IPS has not been 
fully achieved. This may be 
attributed to impediments imposed 
by certain institutional issues 
rather than technical 
constraints. The ISPRS WG and 
other interested groups must task 
themselves to identify, and 
recommend ways and means to 
remove such impediments in the 
way of integration of technolo- 
gies and widespread use of IPS in 
various applications. 
3. INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF IPS 
The National Center for  Geo- 
graphic Information and Analysis 
(NCGIA) was formed by the U.S 
National Science Foundation to 
remove impediments to the broader 
application of GIS and Geographic 
Analysis. This is a problem 
similar to the one that the WG 
will face in the process of 
institutionalization of IPS - the 
identification of institutional 
issues and finding their solu- 
tions for widespread use of IPS. 
NCGIA came up with six institu- 
tional issues affecting the use 
of integrated remote sensing and 
GIS technologies. The issues 
are: (1) data availability, (2) 
data marketing and costs, (3) 
equipment availability and costs, 
(4) standards and practices, (5) 
education and training, and (6) 
organizational infrastructure 
(Lauer, et al. 1991))-. A 
parallelism is apparent in the 
use of IPS for spatial data 
applications. 
The utility of an IPS is enhanced 
manyfold when interfaced with a 
GIS such that the problem of data 
availability is minimized 
provided the GIS has the desired 
data. Moreover, the standard 
products supported by a GIS must 
meet the needs of the users. 
Many of the problems related to 
the data availability have been 
recognized. Data availability 
issue is reflected in the 1990 
Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Circular No.  A-16 "to 
improve coordination of survey- 
ing, mapping, and related spatial 
data activities" with the intent 
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