A/CONF.184/C.2/L3
(d) More research is needed on the potential advantages of new Earth observing remote sensing systems
with higher resolution, more spectral bands or active sensors (interferometric synthetic aperture radar and light radar
(lidar);
(e) Space-borne synthetic aperture radars have demonstrated their effectiveness in producing all-weather
remote sensing imagery of oil pollution effects, especially for the detection of oil pollutants, in measuring extent,
direction and growth and in identifying pollutant sources in international waters;
(f) Many remote sensing methods have been developed to assess tire potential of geological hazards and to
appraise the damage caused. They include methods for the integration of multi-sensor data to improve lithological
mapping in tropical environments, landslide mapping and analysis of volcanic and associated hazards;
(g) Satellite remote sensing lias been shown to be beneficial in identifying environmental indicators to
produce risk maps of desertification, soil erosion and desalinization, deforestation, overgrazing and overdevelopment;
(h) Early wanting systems rely on satellite imaging systems for the detection of early stages of flooding,
forest fires, volcanic eruptions and the effects of certain pollutants;
(i) The detection and characterization of hazardous waste sites require high spatial and spectral resolution
remote sensing from visible, infra-red and radar satellite images.
3. Satellite data are used operationally to lessen the impact of natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, flash
floods, heavy snowstorms, volcanic ash clouds, sea ice, toxic effects on coastal waters and harmful algal blooms.
4. In conclusion it can be stated that many techniques using Earth observation data are being used effectively to
manage natural disasters, but more effort is needed to make disaster prediction a reality and to plan responses. More
research is needed to integrate new data sources and to exploit them effectively.
International Archives of Photogrammetiy and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII Part 7C2, UMSPACE III, Vienna. 1999
79
