MUNICIPAL PROBLEMS - SOLUTIONS FROM SPACE

In February 2002, the Ukrainian Land and Resource Management Center (ULRMC) launched a new initiative on developing ecological support for land and environmental management of the Kyiv region. Under the project, ULRMC will apply satellite imageries to define ecological criteria necessary to find solutions in municipal planning and management.

As part of the project implemented at the request of environmental inspection of Kyiv ULRMC is planning to combine Landsat and ASTER satellite imagery, in order to define different cover types including water, different types of vegetation, soils and urban zones.

In the next phase, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ULRMC will conduct spatial analysis of the remote sensing data, resulting in understanding of cover types within riparian buffer zones, and how those buffer zones have changed since 1988.

Further work with satellite imagery allows the use of stereo pairs of images--two images of the same area taken from different angles -- to analyse the vertical relief of the area. This relief map, called a digital elevation model, can be used to generate contour maps, slope angles, slope aspect, and hydrologic modelling tools. With a combination of cover type and relief analysis, an understanding can be reached of especially sensitive areas needing monitoring.

"Such models can be widely applied in planning the development of infrastructure networks, communications sector and real estate market, both in Kyiv and surrounding area", said Matthew Krogh, ULRMC Technical Advisor.

In particular, GIS and satellite imagery, combined with relief models, enable municipal services, businesses and individuals to optimize the development of new construction sites and areas within the given territory, taking into consideration a variety of factors such as line-of-sight analysis, environmental concerns, or the insolation of premises at the sites under construction, continued Krogh, who manages this project.

Using these spatial analysis techniques, local cargo carriers would be able to select the most optimal route for cargo transportation, minimizing their fuel or amortization costs, and helps to create an accurate transportation timeline. Private companies and individuals may apply the elevation model in determining the most acceptable area for cellular antenna installation, while retail sellers might use GIS to select areas with high flows of expected visitors, developed transportation connections, or low traffic rates.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2002.