In recent years we have seen considerable
changes, with image analysis and GIS systems
now being offered on PC-based platforms. If
we look at the development of price per MIPS
processing power and price per MB storage
over the past and future 5 years it is clear
the affordability of computer resources is
improving rapidly, in addition workstation
vendors such as Sun Microsystems are
increasingly committing themselves to full
integration of image processing in their
product line.
In addition these workstations will be highly
compact and reliable, to the extent
operational expenditures for equipment
maintenance will become negligible compared
to the expense of data maintenance.
Furthermore, fibreoptic networking
architectures are expected to improve to the
point where voluminous image files can be
transmitted between workstations and central
data banks without delaying operator
interaction.
As has happened already in the administrative
section, the proliferation of affordable
workstations is likely to generate a need for
some form of central data depository, from
which workstation operators can retrieve what
they will call raw data (in fact this will be
preprocessed standardized data), and where
they can deposit the results of their
activities for safekeeping, archival, or use
by others. This will result in a combination
of central data base management and
distributed access privileges for
workstations.
Although this evolutionary process will take
some time, it is already in progress.
Fortunately, we will see a strong emphasis on
standardization as this process is taking
place. This reduces uncertainty on the part
of the user community and will facilitate
rapid introduction of these more affordable
computer and software solutions as they
become available.
Conclusion
While a number of factors have constrained
the effective utilization of remotely sensed
data in the past, many signs point towards
significant improvements over the years to
come. This technology oriented push is
happening parallel to a market oriented pull
caused by the increasing need for accurate
data to manage the earth's resources and
environment. The realization that mankind
will have increasingly better data and tools
at its disposal to manage this planet's
resources and environment only increases our
responsibility to get on with the job.
As a leader in remote sensing systems we at
MacDonald Dettwiler are committed to work
with others around the globe to provide the
tools needed to achieve sustainable
development in order to make the world a
better place for generations to come.