Most aspects of our lives are being reshaped by the huge quantities of digital data, produced and shared. Never before has data availability been so central to the future of biodiversity and human well-being on Earth. The development of high-quality land-cover maps for any location is particularly important for ecosystem monitoring and assessment, and therefore to the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. Having empowered people to map how much the ecosystems around them have been changing by eliminating most of the technical challenges of compiling and analysing raw satellite images, REMAP has become a popular tool for environmental monitoring and assessment.
“People around the world are able to make high-quality maps with the right data and identify ecosystems that are changing rapidly – for the worse or for the better.” Dr Murray, Centre for Ecosystem Science-UNSW.
Photo: Nicholas Murray, University of New South Wales.
The primary functionality of REMAP is to develop classified maps from free remote sensing data, which includes spectral (Landsat), topographic (elevation, slope) and climatic data (precipitation, temperature). REMAP features built-in methods to calculate the spatial metrics required by the RLE, and the ability to develop map time-series maps from Landsat data acquired over the last 20 years. Because REMAP can be used to map any type of land cover, it is also useful for quickly developing maps of water distribution, deforestation, urbanization, and anything else that is observable by Landsat.
For more information on this free environmental monitoring app, go to the remap website, launch the app and work your way through the quick-start guide and tutorials. Remap is also available in the RLE Tool section.
Article written by Mira Franzen, Nick Murray and Clara Gomez.
