Geospatial professionals and users of related products, services and geodata often use a wide variety of technologies and apply spatial knowledge in numerous applications. To do this effectively requires an understanding of these technologies and how they can be used. The Manual of Geospatial Science and Technology includes a wealth of information, providing both technical aspects and conceptual knowledge. The combination provides a comprehensive overview of currently available geospatial resources and how they are applied.
Review by Jeff Thurston
The Manual of Geospatial Science and Technology is not a small book. At 854 pages it is large and includes a wealth of information that cuts across the entire geospatial industry. In this respect it can be considered as a reference edition, providing both technical and conceptual knowledge for a number of different technologies. These include geographc information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GNSS), remote sensing (RS), lidar, mapping, photogrammetry and visualisation.
The book also presents supporting information about topcs such as data quality, image processing, social-human interactions, e-governance and global scale use of these technologies. This information is presented by dozens of experts in their respective fields and their contributions have been edited by the four editors of the book.
As a result the book presents a rare combinaton of materials, including a web support site, that provides an overall sense that the book serves as an important reference guide. The book is specifically oriented to provide a focus upon GIS, GPS,GNSS and remote sensing.
Readers will find mathematics included that describes relationships for coordinate systems and map projections. This applies similarly for spectral response and electromagnetic radiation, determination of data errors as well as GPS, but most of the calculations are presented in the first few pages. In other words, this book is not dominated by calcuations by any means.
Included presentation about GPS/GNSS and how different levels of accuracy are used for different applications is interesting. As stated, the authors cover GPS from a broad definition. But they explain issues related to accuracy and errors in terms that connect these to the applications being considered, and different surveying techniques using GPS are outlined. There is also material presentated about connecting GPS/GNSS technology together – cables, interoperability and electronically.
One section describes GPS projects from a planning perspective. Technique, standards, quality control and planning tasks are discussed. This information is valuable for those not only using these equipment today, but will be of great assistance for those considering to buy new GPS/GNSS equipment. The example oriented toward mapping tasks and engineering is particularly informative for formulating an understanding about the relationship of technology to application types.
Much of the GPS/GNSS material presented is up-to-date, including refences from 2009 in some cases. Readers can learn about GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, COMPASS and extended possibilities including SBAS and RNSS.
Many of the images within the book are in black and white. Some of the images are also reproduced in colour and their corresponding colour image included as inserts that are all presented together in the middle of the book. It appears that drawings are left black and white while more complex images, photos and graphics are given a colour duplication.
Topics changes to remote sensing and photogrammetry at Chapter 16 (page 285). Three-dimensional imaging and stereoscopy begins the change before moving on to discuss remote sensing analysis and project design and operational aspects for meeting designs. Imaging systems such as ERS1, ERS2, ASAR, RADARSAT-1 and 2, TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X, JERS and ALOS are included. Recently videography has entered into the marketplace and this topc is also included. Issues related to sensor types are well presented and LiDAR is also included in the discussion. LandSAT, SPOT, MODIS and TERRA are similarly included.
Today many people comment upon the importance of extracting information from satellite imagery. Accordingly, they are interested to know ‘how much’ information these images can provide. Invariably that discussion revolves around image processing. This book includes a chapter about information extraction from remotely sensed data. It explains the connection between sensor types and kinds of information that can be extracted.
The classification of satellite imagery can be explained as a process and the process of revealng informaton from pixels is explained. Classification, advanced classifiers, post-classification and cartographc output are all part of the discussion. A question many people ask about relates to the accuracy of maps generated from remotely sensed imagery. This connection is explained. Those interested in LiDAR will find the example for coastal regions to be informative, providing a good summary on how LiDAR works and how to determine the quality of this kind of information.
A glimpse into the possiblities for satellite imagery heading into the future is oriented toward the integration of these sensors with others and how governments can begin to use the data and information within the operatons and services they provide. Within interest there is a short discussion on night image processing and some of the possibilities night time remotely sensed images can provide. Other trends relate to the growing number of sensors in the sky, effectively expanding the possibilities as they stretch across a wider inventory of different types.
At chapter 26 (page 513) topics change toward GIS. No book oriented to first time readers would avoid including the ‘What is a GIS?’ section and this one does not fail in that respect. A brief history of GIS is included before describing what a data model is about, metadata, addressing, representation and geographic data structures. Many of the basic GIS information covered over decades is provided, including spatial analysis and modeling. This book also explains elements of data quality such as logical consistency, position, thematic, lineage and temporal accuracy.
GIS is also explained in terms of planning a GIS project and preparing to implement it. Factors nvolving societal issues are provided including, social theory, institutional issues, legal and ethical perspectives, intellectual property and public participation. Final chapters outline the connections GIS makes toward governments, infrastructures and biodiversity. This informaton includes details related to global GIS applications and spatial data infrastructure (SDI).
In summary, this book is oriented toward GPS/GNSS, GIS and remote sensing. Readers will find the GPS/GNSS presentations particularly interesting, largely because most of the material is very up-to-date and comprehensively covered. The GIS material in this book needs to be updated to include server based technologies and WebGIS services and to explain how it connects with surveying. Remote sensing details include both rudimentary concepts and interesting discussion on assessing image quality. Trends toward e-governance and the use of geospatial information are growing and this book sheds light on this evolution.
Manual of Geospatial Science and Technology will be useful to undergraduate students and those interested in GIS, GPS/GNSS and remote sensing who need or wish to learn about these technologies. The large number of contributors and topics covered provide a wealth of information about how geospatial information can provide valuable solutions is explained in easy-to-understand terms.
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Jeff Thurston is co-founder and co-editor of V1 Magazine / Asian Surveying and Mapping for Vector1 Media. He is based in Berlin.
