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,DOWNTOEARTH
Geographic Information for Sustai bb bb bb
nable Development in Africa
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Committee on the Geographic Foundation for Agenda 21
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Committeegon Geography
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Mapping Science Committee Boarbb bb bb
bb d on Earth Sciences and Resources
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Division on Earth and LifegStudies
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THE NATIONALgACADEMIES PRESS
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Washington, D.C. bb
www.nap.edu
,THE b b NATIONAL b b ACADEMIES b b PRESS b b • b b 500 b b Fifth b b Street, b b N.W. b b • b b Washington, b b DC b b 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject ofgthis report was approvedgby the Governing Board of
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thegNat ional ResearchgCouncil, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National
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Academy of Scie nces, the National Academy of Engineering, andgthe Institute of Medicine. The
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members of the commit tee responsible for the report were chosen for theirgspecial competences
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and with regard forgappro-
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priate balance. bb
This study was jointly sponsored by the Environmental Systems Research Institute,
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NationalgAeronautic s and Space Administration, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, National
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Oceanic andgAtmospheri c Administration, National Science Foundation, U.S. Agency for
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
International Development, U.S. Depa rt-
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ment ofgState, and U.S. Geological Survey. Anygopinions, findings, conclusions, or
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
recommendations e xpressed in this publication are thosegofgthe authors and do not
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necessarilygreflect the viewgof the orga- nizations orgagenciesgthat provided supportgforgthis project.
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International Standard Book Number: 0-309- bb bb bb bb
08478- 4 Library of Congress Control Number:
bb bb bb bb bb bb
2002110505
bb
Front cover: Left—a GeoCover-
bb bb bb
Ortho image of Mount Kilimanjaro originallygobtained at 30 30gm spatial resolution. It has a
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position al accuracy of better than 50 m (root mean square error). Landsat TM bands 7,4,2 (mid-
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infrared, near- infrared, andggreen) are displayed (courtesy of Earth Satellite Corpora-
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tion). Each colorgorgshade is unique and depends on the vegetation type, health, and growth stage.
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The bright greensgare dense vegetation. The purples and pinks are sparsegto no vegetation. The
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bottomgthird center of thegimage along Mount Kilimanjaro’s lowergslopes contains areas of clear
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cuts (ingpinks) sur- rounded byguncut verdant forest (bright greens). The top of the mountain is
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snow-
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coveredg(blue) and the white areas are clouds. UppergRight— bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
artist’sgrendition ofgthe Shuttle Radar TopographygMission 60-mg(200-
bb bb bb bb bb bb
ft) mast beinggdeployed from thegspace shuttlegEndeavor (courtesy NASA Jet Propulsion
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bbLabora- tory). Radargimages are collected from the end of the mast and from the shuttle
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payload bay. LowergRi ght—paper maps used in decision support in Namibia (courtesy of Jo
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Tagg, Namibia Nature Founda- tion).
bb bb bb bb bb
Cover designed by Van Nguyen
bb bb bb bb
Copies of this report are available from:
bb bb bb bb bb bb
The National Academies Pressg50
bb bb bb
0
bb Fifth Street,
bb N.W. bb bb
Washington, DC 20055
bb bb bb
Lockbox 285 bb
800-624-6242
202-334-
3313 (ingthe Washington metropolitan area) http://ww
bb bb bb bb bb
w.nap.edu
bb
Copyright 2002 bygthe National Academygof Sciences. All rights
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bb reserved. P rinted in the United States of America
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
, The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit,
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
self- perpetuating societygof distinguished schol-
bb bb bb bb bb
ars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
technolog ygand to their use for theggeneral welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to
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it by thegCongress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
government on scientific and t echnical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
National Academy of Sciences.
bb bb bb bb
The National Academy of Engineeringgwas established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
-
emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb
administratio n and in the selection ofgitsgmembers, sharinggwith the National Academygof Sciences
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bbthe responsibility f or advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb
bbalso sponsors engineering pr o-
bb bb bb bb
grams aimed at meetinggnational needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the
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bbsuperior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of
bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bbEngineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 bygthe National Academygof Sciences to secure
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
the s ervices of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibilityggiven to the
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
National Academy ofgSc iencesgbygits congressional chartergto be an advisergto thegfederal government
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and, upon its own initiative, t o identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b
Harvey V. Fineberg is president ofgthe Ins titute ofgMedicine.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
The National Research Council was organized bygthe National Academygof Sciences in 1916 to
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
associat e thegbroad community ofgscience andgtechnology with the Academy’s purposesgof furthering
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
knowledgega nd advising the federal government. Functioning in accordancegwithggeneral policies
bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb
determinedgbygthe A cad-
bb bb bb
emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency ofgboth the National Academy of Sciences
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
an d the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
scienti fic and engineering communities. ThegCouncil is administered jointlygby bothgAcademies
bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb
and the Institut e of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vicegchair,
bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
respectively, of the Na tional Research Council.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
www.national-academies.org
?
,DOWNTOEARTH
Geographic Information for Sustai bb bb bb
nable Development in Africa
bb bb bb bb
Committee on the Geographic Foundation for Agenda 21
b b b bb bb bb b
Committeegon Geography
bb bb
Mapping Science Committee Boarbb bb bb
bb d on Earth Sciences and Resources
bb bb bb bb bb
Division on Earth and LifegStudies
bb bb bb bb
THE NATIONALgACADEMIES PRESS
bb bb
Washington, D.C. bb
www.nap.edu
,THE b b NATIONAL b b ACADEMIES b b PRESS b b • b b 500 b b Fifth b b Street, b b N.W. b b • b b Washington, b b DC b b 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject ofgthis report was approvedgby the Governing Board of
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
thegNat ional ResearchgCouncil, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Academy of Scie nces, the National Academy of Engineering, andgthe Institute of Medicine. The
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
members of the commit tee responsible for the report were chosen for theirgspecial competences
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
and with regard forgappro-
bb bb bb bb
priate balance. bb
This study was jointly sponsored by the Environmental Systems Research Institute,
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
NationalgAeronautic s and Space Administration, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, National
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Oceanic andgAtmospheri c Administration, National Science Foundation, U.S. Agency for
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
International Development, U.S. Depa rt-
bb bb bb bb bb
ment ofgState, and U.S. Geological Survey. Anygopinions, findings, conclusions, or
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
recommendations e xpressed in this publication are thosegofgthe authors and do not
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
necessarilygreflect the viewgof the orga- nizations orgagenciesgthat provided supportgforgthis project.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
International Standard Book Number: 0-309- bb bb bb bb
08478- 4 Library of Congress Control Number:
bb bb bb bb bb bb
2002110505
bb
Front cover: Left—a GeoCover-
bb bb bb
Ortho image of Mount Kilimanjaro originallygobtained at 30 30gm spatial resolution. It has a
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
position al accuracy of better than 50 m (root mean square error). Landsat TM bands 7,4,2 (mid-
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
infrared, near- infrared, andggreen) are displayed (courtesy of Earth Satellite Corpora-
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
tion). Each colorgorgshade is unique and depends on the vegetation type, health, and growth stage.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
The bright greensgare dense vegetation. The purples and pinks are sparsegto no vegetation. The
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bottomgthird center of thegimage along Mount Kilimanjaro’s lowergslopes contains areas of clear
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
cuts (ingpinks) sur- rounded byguncut verdant forest (bright greens). The top of the mountain is
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
snow-
bb
coveredg(blue) and the white areas are clouds. UppergRight— bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
artist’sgrendition ofgthe Shuttle Radar TopographygMission 60-mg(200-
bb bb bb bb bb bb
ft) mast beinggdeployed from thegspace shuttlegEndeavor (courtesy NASA Jet Propulsion
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bbLabora- tory). Radargimages are collected from the end of the mast and from the shuttle
b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
payload bay. LowergRi ght—paper maps used in decision support in Namibia (courtesy of Jo
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
Tagg, Namibia Nature Founda- tion).
bb bb bb bb bb
Cover designed by Van Nguyen
bb bb bb bb
Copies of this report are available from:
bb bb bb bb bb bb
The National Academies Pressg50
bb bb bb
0
bb Fifth Street,
bb N.W. bb bb
Washington, DC 20055
bb bb bb
Lockbox 285 bb
800-624-6242
202-334-
3313 (ingthe Washington metropolitan area) http://ww
bb bb bb bb bb
w.nap.edu
bb
Copyright 2002 bygthe National Academygof Sciences. All rights
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bb reserved. P rinted in the United States of America
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
, The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit,
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
self- perpetuating societygof distinguished schol-
bb bb bb bb bb
ars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
technolog ygand to their use for theggeneral welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
it by thegCongress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
government on scientific and t echnical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
National Academy of Sciences.
bb bb bb bb
The National Academy of Engineeringgwas established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
-
emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb
administratio n and in the selection ofgitsgmembers, sharinggwith the National Academygof Sciences
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bbthe responsibility f or advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb
bbalso sponsors engineering pr o-
bb bb bb bb
grams aimed at meetinggnational needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bbsuperior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of
bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
bbEngineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 bygthe National Academygof Sciences to secure
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
the s ervices of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibilityggiven to the
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
National Academy ofgSc iencesgbygits congressional chartergto be an advisergto thegfederal government
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
and, upon its own initiative, t o identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb b b
Harvey V. Fineberg is president ofgthe Ins titute ofgMedicine.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
The National Research Council was organized bygthe National Academygof Sciences in 1916 to
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
associat e thegbroad community ofgscience andgtechnology with the Academy’s purposesgof furthering
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
knowledgega nd advising the federal government. Functioning in accordancegwithggeneral policies
bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb
determinedgbygthe A cad-
bb bb bb
emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency ofgboth the National Academy of Sciences
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
an d the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
scienti fic and engineering communities. ThegCouncil is administered jointlygby bothgAcademies
bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb
and the Institut e of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vicegchair,
bb bb bb bb bb bb b b bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
respectively, of the Na tional Research Council.
bb bb bb bb bb bb bb
www.national-academies.org