Remote sensing and geographic information system for environmental and pollution studies

Human beings are causing drastic changes in their environment through exploitation of large quantities of natural resources and energy. Such uses always lead to the production of waste which causes environmental pollution. Advancement in technology has led to an increase in industrial activity and the ever-increasing population has put pressure on natural resources. Assessment of the impact of human activities on the environment requires qualitative and quantitative information on the spatial distribution and dynamics of natural resources. Geographic information systems (GIS) have emerged as a powerful tool to handle the voluminous data (both spatial and non-spatial). Temporal remote sensing data in conjunction with GIS have proved useful for studying environmental impact and monitoring. The authors discuss the merits and limitations of these technologies with respect to environmental and pollution studies