Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Mathias Lemman

Assistant Professor, Department of Geodesy, Deft University of Technology, Netherlands

Abstract

The potential benefits of satellite imaging to urban applications have been recognized since about thirty years ago at this field’s early stage. However, the combination and integration of this extraordinary technology in processing of information and in everyday management and urban and local affairs is still far away. Why is it that most of the officials involved in the management and administration of the city use the high resolution images of modern satellites only at incidents, while they are in urgent need of certain and decisive information? This is the question that forms the basis of the author’s discussion. The author argues that in order to realize the application of satellite imagery in urban management, achieving value added industry is required to bridge the gap between researcher and end-user.
The trend of history has shown that the sharp increase in urban migration to urban areas has led to the fact that half of the world's six billion people are now living in cities. As the population continues to accelerate into urban areas, a certain percentage of current land in cities will expand to agriculture and natural ecosystems.
The problems associated with this development, such as uncontrolled migration and population growth, traffic congestion pollution and problems caused by extreme rainfall have so far been enormous and everyday new issues add up to previous ones due to impacts of urban activities on surrounding eco-system. In this regard, there is a chance and opportunity for finding solutions provided that sufficient, accurate and up-to-date details on land information are obtained and applied in a proper and coordinated manner by well-trained and knowledgeable experts.