MEANING OF GEOGRHAFIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL 
MONITORING OF REGIONS WITH COMPLIETED ECOLOGICAL SITUATION 
Dr. Alexander A.Kirsanov , Deputy Director, VNIIKAM 
Birzhevoy proezd, 6, 199034, St.Petersburg, Russia 
E-mail: sur@vniikam.spb.su; Fax: 7-812-218-39-16 
ISPRS, Comission VII, Working Group 2 
KEY WORDS: GIS, Environmental monitoring, Database, Remotely sensed data, Ecological mapping 
ABSTRACT: 
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become active used at several last years under geological, 
geographical, ecological and other investigations in Russia.They allow to process varios and different levels 
information to solution of many types tasks. GIS application is especially effective for environmental monitoring 
of regions with complicated ecological situation. An appearanc e of such situations are caused by intensive 
human activity and natural factors. Systems Geo Draw and GIS Geo Graph developed by Centre of 
Geoinformative Research of Russian Academy of Sciences were used. They are permits to produce electronic: 
atlases on the basis of Data Base. Atlases include set of maps cotained information on the whole natural 
environment of the regions. Remotely sensed data is the basis for compilation of varios thematic maps. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
To study the siate and changes of environment under 
influence of natural and manmade (technogenic) 
factors special aimed type ofthe works named 
geoecological mapping are carried out in Russia. The 
main form of registration of environmental state is a 
map compiled on the basis of satellite images and 
ground landscape data. For studying and evaluation 
of integrated impact of technogenic factors on 
environment and prediction of its changes large 
volume of heterogeneos information is needed. In this 
aim execution of works on collection, processing and 
analysis of ecologically meaning data are required. 
Above mentioned tasks may be most efficient solved 
by means Integrated Geographic Systems, which 
allows to use large information volumes including 
vector, raster and statistic data. 
At the present time GIS is became universal tool for 
integrated analysis of geological, geomophological, 
ecological and landscape study of environment. The 
core of GIS is the Database which allows to carry out 
all general and necessary operations for investigations 
- input, correction, storage, search, processing, 
analysis, simulation, output. Database includes initial 
remotely sensed and cartographic data which allow to 
obtain the veratile information provided fullness and 
objectivity of geoecological mapping. The different 
remotely sensed data such as photographic, 
multispectral and radar takes the special place in 
geoecological mapping because this data the most full 
reflects objective information on environment. 
Cartographic materials including series maps, supply 
information on several environmental components: 
geological, Quaternary sediments, hydrogeological, 
geochemical, geophysical, geomorphological, 
economo-geographical, soil and vegetation maps, 
mineral resources prospecting maps and others. 
Knowledge base compiled for solution of ecological 
tasks includes manysided ecologically significant 
information on natural conditions and technogenic 
factors and objects of area: geological features, 
tectonics, especially neotectonics, relief, hydrogeology, 
endogenic and exogenic processes, location of mineral 
deposits, landscape geochemistry, paleogeography of 
Quaternary period, physeogeographical conditions 
(climate, wind and temperature regime, atmospheric 
precipitation), soils, vegetation, surface water, 
catastrophe phenomena, as well as location of 
industrial enterprises (nuclear power plants, 
hydroelectric stations and thermal power stations, 
plants, integrated industrial plants, etc.) agricultural 
plants (stock-breeding and poultry forms, crop areas, 
pastures etc.), transport, mining and oil productions, 
places of industrial nuclear explosion and burial 
radioactive waste, rubbish heap, etc. Besides that data 
on pollution sources with negative influence around 
test area is necessary (including acid rains and 
transboundary displacements etc.). Knowledge base is 
presented in graphic, tables, schemes and text forms 
which are stored on floppy disks and magnetic tapes. 
2. METHODOLOGY 
For monitoring aim the following maps are compling: 
basic maps showing environmental state by using the 
most early materials, in termidiate maps showing 
dynamics of natural environment and its components 
based on different times images, as well as forecast 
maps on certain time intervals. Objectivity and quality 
of map making are stipulated both estimation of 
natural environment state and reliability of its changes 
forecast i.e. the main task of monitoring. In 
interactive regime separated contour are outlined, that 
promise to increase or to enlarge initial image either 
summarize or make detailed of each contours. 
724 International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 7, Budapest, 1998 
  
  
  
  
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