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Using Remote Sensing to Evaluate Environmental Institutional Designs: A Habitat Conservation Planning Example
Author(s) -
Schweik Charles M.,
Thomas Craig W.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/1540-6237.00081
Subject(s) - thematic mapper , environmental resource management , remote sensing , thematic map , plan (archaeology) , scale (ratio) , environmental planning , satellite imagery , multispectral image , land cover , computer science , habitat , satellite , land use , geography , ecology , environmental science , cartography , engineering , archaeology , aerospace engineering , biology
Objective. Satellite‐based remote‐sensing analysis is a beneficial, yet underused, tool for environmental policy, planning, and evaluation. We identify its benefits and costs to encourage social scientists to consider the use of remote sensing as a tool for planning and evaluating environmental institutions. Methods. We analyze two multispectral Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite images to evaluate a habitat conservation plan (HCP) implemented pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. Results. Image analysis provides useful broad spatial scale information on HCP performance that is not discernible to the naked eye or through other methodologies. Conclusions. Satellite image analysis should be considered as a tool for planning and evaluating environmental institutional designs—despite the financial costs and requisite technical training. These images provide ecological and land cover change information that may not be available elsewhere. We provide lessons learned to help make analysts cognizant of some important issues surrounding the use of satellite‐based imagery for environmental institutional analysis.