Today, digital transformation is widespread in everyone’s lives. The benefits brought on by advanced technologies also span several industries.
In the business sector, sales tracking and other solutions are streamlining business processes. Meanwhile, the medical industry is also enjoying the benefits brought by digital solutions.
Recent advancements in geospatial technologies are also affecting life on Earth. Read on to discover how advances in geospatial technologies are helping people today.
Remote Sensing
Earth Observation Satellite
An Earth observation (EO) satellite monitors and observes the Earth from orbit. Governments utilize these satellites for military use, such as espionage. Researchers also operate EO satellites for meteorology. Others include environmental monitoring and cartography.
The most common use of EO satellites is collecting satellite imagery of the Earth. Today, an increasing number of Earth observation satellites are being launched into space. With more EO satellites, Earth imagery data is more accessible and available.
EO satellites aren’t only increasing in number, too. Advancements in technology are allowing researchers to improve the data satellites can gather.
In September, a Chinese aerospace company launched a hyperspectral EO satellite. Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) developed the Gaofen 5 (02).
An Advanced Hyperspectral Imager (AHSI) enables the satellite to observe hundreds of narrow light channels. These channels range from ultraviolet to long-wave infrared. This allows the satellite to identify the chemical-physical composition of objects in the image. The satellite has seven imagers and sensors to collect spatial, radioactive, and spectral.
The goal is to boost the country’s environmental protection efforts using satellite images. Gaofen 5 (02) also aims to improve China’s natural resources surveillance and disaster prevention. Gaofen 5 (02) proves that satellite remote sensing continues to grow as an Earth monitoring tool and a data source for Earth-system science.
LIDAR
Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is a remote sensing process that uses light to measure distances to the Earth. Using pulses of light, LIDAR provides three-dimensional data about the Earth’s shape. It also supplies information about the planet’s surface characteristics.
A LIDAR instrument has a scanner, a laser, and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Researchers install LIDAR instruments on airplanes and helicopters to get data. The development of LIDAR systems allowed researchers to study natural and manufactured environments. LIDAR instruments provide an element of accuracy, precision, and flexibility.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) utilizes LIDAR to create accurate shoreline maps in the U.S. The agency also uses the instrument to make digital elevation models. This is useful when scientists are using geographic information systems (GIS).
Graphic Information System (GIS)
A GIS is a geospatial system that captures and stores data related to positions on Earth’s surface. By studying data, GIS can help scientists better understand spatial relationships and patterns. These systems can use any data that includes location, which users express as:
- Latitude and longitude
- Address
- ZIP code
There is a lot of information that professionals can compare and contrast using GIS. The system can process the following data:
- People. This can include education level, population, or income.
- Landscape. This includes the location of streams, vegetation, and different types of soil.
- Landmarks. This includes sites of factories, schools, and farms.
With GIS software applications, professionals can visualize crucial geospatial intelligence. The digital transformation enabled open-source GIS mapping. This software provided users with access to tools needed to create maps.
Projects like OpenStreetMap and the Open Geospatial Data Project enabled the convenient collection of spatial information. With GIS-based software, researchers can now:
- Outline a region’s demographics of an area
- Monitor the availability of natural resources in a particular region over time
- Observe crop growth and detect any evidence of disease
- Show how environmental changes affect the preservation of a historical site
This also plays a role in the world of automated vehicles and navigation systems. When planning routes, GIS systems account for a wide range of factors, like traffic conditions.
GIS systems impact the progress of the development of smart city infrastructure. With extensive locational data from GIS, governments can provide services faster. They can also plan sustainable development.
Another use for GIS systems is geospatial analytics. Across industries, organizations are looking to turn big data into a competitive edge. GIS technologies can help boost these efforts.
With geospatial analytics, users can apply geographic data to improve decision-making and problem-solving efforts.
With GIS data, people can make visualizations and detect significant trends. This data can also help users make predictions and outline reports. Geospatial analytics can help simplify relationships and streamline processes. Businesses and other organizations can:
- Make wiser choices about building or expanding stores
- Reduce risks from hazardous location-based events, like powerful storms and other disasters
- Know when Internet of Things (IoT)-based devices and equipment enter or leave an area
- Create apps for customers that improve their in-store experiences
- Streamline logistics and cut down costs by running various routing scenarios
- Detect patterns of criminal activity in a particular region
These show that the benefits of geospatial systems have affected the daily lives of many. These also show that these advantages aren’t limited to the scientific field.
