Geoinformatics in Environmental Management

Over the past number of years there has been a growing usage of technology in environmental management. and indeed the greater capacity of the improving technologies to provide effective tools for environmental management.Geographic information technologies, or geoinformatics, which differentiate themselves through their ability to handle the spatial component of data, clearly have a key role in handling environmental data. Environmental processes have a definite spatial element which needs to be specifically considered if those processes are to be understood and managed.\; Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are powerful information management and analysis tools. The integrated digital approach identifies different stages: data collection and field support technologies; digital 'workbench' technologies which include the integration of GIS with other techniques for data analysis; and the transfer and ultimate utilisation of processed information. GIS is just one of a suite of tools required to meet the tasks involved in each of these stages For efficient environmental management with an improved likelihood of achieving specified objectives, an integrated suite of processes from data collection, to data handling and analysis, to information presentation, is required.