Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing (RS)

The Technological Foundation for Sustainable Nature Conservation

What are GIS & RS?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are powerful tools that allow for the collection, storage, management, analysis, and presentation of geographic data. Meanwhile, Remote Sensing (RS) is a technology for acquiring information about the Earth’s surface from a distance, typically via satellites or aircraft, without direct contact.

When combined, GIS and RS form an indispensable toolkit, providing a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the environmental challenges we face.

Role of GIS & RS at CTNC

At the Center for Technology and Nature Conservation (CTNC), GIS and RS are the backbone of our research and conservation activities. We apply these technologies to:

  • Current Status & Forest Planning Maps: Create detailed maps of current forest status, supporting planning and sustainable forest management.
  • Detecting Forest Change & Degradation: Continuously monitor to promptly detect hotspots of forest loss and degradation due to logging, fires, or other impacts.
  • Calculate Carbon Stock: Estimate and track carbon stored in forests, supporting emission reduction and climate change adaptation programs.
  • Calculate Surface Temperature: Analyze remote sensing data to assess land surface temperature, serving research on climate change and urbanization impacts.
  • Assess Soil Erosion: Identify areas at high risk of soil erosion, thereby proposing effective soil protection solutions.