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Remote Sensing For Assessing Remote Sensing For Assessing Environmental Impacts Based On Environmental Impacts Based On

Sustainability IndicatorsSustainability Indicators

John C. TrinderJohn C. TrinderSchool of Surveying and SISSchool of Surveying and SIS

UNSWUNSW

Sydney, AustraliaSydney, Australia

11stst Vice President ISPRS Vice President ISPRS

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IMPACT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENTIMPACT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Humans are modifying the energy and mass Humans are modifying the energy and mass exchanges that occur between the atmosphere, exchanges that occur between the atmosphere, oceans and biota oceans and biota

The resulting changes may be beyond the The resulting changes may be beyond the resilience of the Earth’s environment to absorb resilience of the Earth’s environment to absorb themthem

Sets of compatible global data are required for Sets of compatible global data are required for analysis of key terrestrial variablesanalysis of key terrestrial variables

WSSD declaration includes the three ‘pillars’ of WSSD declaration includes the three ‘pillars’ of Sustainable Development: economic, social and Sustainable Development: economic, social and environmental protectionenvironmental protection

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable Development:Sustainable Development: Adoption of practices of environmental use and management Adoption of practices of environmental use and management

which provides for a which provides for a satisfactory standard of livingsatisfactory standard of living today, today, and which will not impair the capacity to provide for future and which will not impair the capacity to provide for future generations. generations.

Development that meets Development that meets the needs of the presentthe needs of the present without without foreclosing the needs or options of future generations foreclosing the needs or options of future generations

It requires equilibrium between production and the It requires equilibrium between production and the consumption of energyconsumption of energy

Achieving a sustainable society cannot be divorced Achieving a sustainable society cannot be divorced from issues of equity, welfare, lifestyle and standards from issues of equity, welfare, lifestyle and standards of livingof living

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SUSTAINABILITY IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN TERMS OF ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICSECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

Need to take into consideration economical, ecological Need to take into consideration economical, ecological and sociological issues and sociological issues

Ecological economicsEcological economics – based on transformation of – based on transformation of ‘Natural Capital’ into ‘Man-Made Capital’‘Natural Capital’ into ‘Man-Made Capital’

Optimal growth occurs when marginal cost of natural Optimal growth occurs when marginal cost of natural capital transformation equals marginal benefits to capital transformation equals marginal benefits to mankindmankind

There is a limit to the extent of natural capitalThere is a limit to the extent of natural capital When development involves transformation above When development involves transformation above

optimum, it is unsustainableoptimum, it is unsustainable

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TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURETOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Scenarios for developing a sustainable human society Scenarios for developing a sustainable human society

((Gallopin & Raskin 2002Gallopin & Raskin 2002) ) :: market forcesmarket forces policy reformpolicy reform eco-communalism eco-communalism muddling throughmuddling through

Ecosocial market Ecosocial market ((Rademaker 2004 )Rademaker 2004 ) consensus, and respect for civil rights and human equityconsensus, and respect for civil rights and human equity human behaviour is agreed globally by social contracthuman behaviour is agreed globally by social contract

Decisions based on inputs from all stakeholders (Azapagic Decisions based on inputs from all stakeholders (Azapagic 2005)2005)

Economic, social and ecological issues must be considered Economic, social and ecological issues must be considered when developing sustainable societywhen developing sustainable society

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Sustainable Development Indicators (SDISustainable Development Indicators (SDI)) developed to monitor progress and assess the impact of developed to monitor progress and assess the impact of

policies on natural resource developmentpolicies on natural resource development exact measures of single factors and their combination exact measures of single factors and their combination

into meaningful parametersinto meaningful parameters compresses information on a relatively complex compresses information on a relatively complex

process, trend or state into a more readily process, trend or state into a more readily understandable form understandable form

may be application specific may be application specific should be unbiasedshould be unbiased sensitive to changessensitive to changes convenient to communicate and collect. convenient to communicate and collect. separate SDIs for economic, social and ecologicalseparate SDIs for economic, social and ecological

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Development of SDIsDevelopment of SDIs

Many examples on SDIsMany examples on SDIs OECD - OECD - 23 indices based on natural sciences, 23 indices based on natural sciences,

policy performance, accounting framework and policy performance, accounting framework and synoptic indices.synoptic indices.

IISD – International Institute for Sustainable IISD – International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

UN – UN – DSDDSD World BankWorld Bank Alliance Alliance for a Sustainable Atlanta for a Sustainable Atlanta

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Environmental and Sustainability Indicators for Environmental and Sustainability Indicators for Canada (NRTEE) (2003)Canada (NRTEE) (2003)

National natural and human capital indicatorsNational natural and human capital indicators Supplementing existing economic indicators will

provide a more robust picture of the state of the national capital

Air quality Fresh water Green house gas emissions Forest cover Wetlands

Human capital (Education attainment)Human capital (Education attainment)

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Typical SDIs for Land PracticesTypical SDIs for Land Practices

Sustainable land practices:Sustainable land practices: nutrient balance, yield trend and variability, land use diversity nutrient balance, yield trend and variability, land use diversity

and land cover and land cover amount of tree coveramount of tree cover impact on soil and/or waterimpact on soil and/or water conservation of native habitats. conservation of native habitats.

AgricultureAgriculture yield trends, coefficients for limited resources, material and yield trends, coefficients for limited resources, material and

energy flows and balances, soil health, modelling and bio-energy flows and balances, soil health, modelling and bio-indicatorsindicators

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Analysis and Combination of SDIsAnalysis and Combination of SDIs

Multiple SDIs cause difficulties in assessing Multiple SDIs cause difficulties in assessing sustainabilitysustainability

Methods suggested to combine multiple SDIs to Methods suggested to combine multiple SDIs to produce a measure of sustainabilityproduce a measure of sustainability Rule based systemRule based system Fuzzy logic analysisFuzzy logic analysis Principal component analysisPrincipal component analysis

Concept is still being researched – is it Concept is still being researched – is it appropriate?appropriate?

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SDI FRAMEWORKSSDI FRAMEWORKS

Simple approach to developing SDIs inadequateSimple approach to developing SDIs inadequate New approach - frameworks for SDIs which include New approach - frameworks for SDIs which include

linkages between the three areas:- linkages between the three areas:- Typical conceptual frameworks recommended by authors:Typical conceptual frameworks recommended by authors: domain-based, issue-based, goal-baseddomain-based, issue-based, goal-based Olalla-Tárraga (2006) Olalla-Tárraga (2006)

hierarchical concept hierarchical concept economic, social and ecological each subdivide into ‘area’, economic, social and ecological each subdivide into ‘area’,

‘objective’, ‘attribute’, and ‘indicators’‘objective’, ‘attribute’, and ‘indicators’

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SustainableDevelopment

Environment

Social

Economic

Dimension Area Objective Attribute INDICATORS

Hierarchical framework of indicator system.

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Characteristics of Sustainability Indicators (Becker 1997)

Criteria Scientific Quality Ecosystem relevance Data Management Sustainability Paradigm

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Scientific QualityScientific Quality

Indicator really measures what it is supposed Indicator really measures what it is supposed to detectto detect

Indicator measures significant aspectIndicator measures significant aspect

Problem specificProblem specific

Distinguishes between causes and effectsDistinguishes between causes and effects

Can be reproduced and repeated over timeCan be reproduced and repeated over time

Uncorrelated, independentUncorrelated, independent

UnambiguousUnambiguous

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Ecosystem relevanceEcosystem relevance

Changes as the system moves away from equilibriumChanges as the system moves away from equilibrium

Distinguishes agro-systems moving away from Distinguishes agro-systems moving away from sustainabilitysustainability

Identifies key factors leading to unsustainabilityIdentifies key factors leading to unsustainability

Warning of irreversible processesWarning of irreversible processes

Proactive in forecasting future trendsProactive in forecasting future trends

Covers full cycles through timeCovers full cycles through time

Corresponds to aggregation levelCorresponds to aggregation level

Highlights links to other system levelsHighlights links to other system levels

Permits trade-off detection and assessment between Permits trade-off detection and assessment between system components and levelssystem components and levels

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Remote Sensing for Sustainable DevelopmentRemote Sensing for Sustainable Development

Identify parameters measurable by remote Identify parameters measurable by remote sensing sensors sensing sensors

Relate them to sustainability indicators Relate them to sustainability indicators Typical parameters:Typical parameters:

Vegetation stress Vegetation stress Agricultural Agricultural

Yield estimatesYield estimates Soil condition and erosionSoil condition and erosion

Land subsidence due to mining or water withdrawalLand subsidence due to mining or water withdrawal

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Vegetation stressVegetation stress Effects of stress on vegetation caused by withdrawal of Effects of stress on vegetation caused by withdrawal of

underground water has been studied in Floridaunderground water has been studied in Florida Vegetation - Vegetation - pond-Cypruspond-Cyprus Laboratory scans in NIR and mid infrared regions of the Laboratory scans in NIR and mid infrared regions of the

spectrum of dried milled branch tips spectrum of dried milled branch tips Chemical changes in the vegetation revealed in the dataChemical changes in the vegetation revealed in the data

An indicator of unsustainable withdrawal of water from the An indicator of unsustainable withdrawal of water from the aquifersaquifers

Similar studies of stress on vegetation due to lack of water have Similar studies of stress on vegetation due to lack of water have been made on red gum plantations in Australiabeen made on red gum plantations in Australia

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Agricultural yield estimatesAgricultural yield estimates

Remote sensing data, combined with agro-Remote sensing data, combined with agro-meteorological data, can provide daily, weekly and meteorological data, can provide daily, weekly and annual information on crop condition and status annual information on crop condition and status

This data can also be used to generate yield This data can also be used to generate yield estimates and comparisons of annual production estimates and comparisons of annual production trendstrends

Similar measurements made in CanadaSimilar measurements made in Canada

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Soil condition and erosionSoil condition and erosion

Remote sensing input - direct and indirect indicators may Remote sensing input - direct and indirect indicators may be derived through spectral characterisation of the soil (if be derived through spectral characterisation of the soil (if exposed) or of vegetation conditions (if covered) exposed) or of vegetation conditions (if covered)

changes of the soil surface composition over time are changes of the soil surface composition over time are indicators of land degradation, salinity and erosionindicators of land degradation, salinity and erosion

2020

Landmonitor

Mapping surface expression of salinity in south western Australia

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Land subsidence due to mining or water Land subsidence due to mining or water withdrawalwithdrawal

Differential interferometric SAR (DInSAR) is a Differential interferometric SAR (DInSAR) is a precise for measuring mine subsidenceprecise for measuring mine subsidence

Can detect illegal mines by surface subsidenceCan detect illegal mines by surface subsidence Subsidence of surface due to withdrawal of Subsidence of surface due to withdrawal of

underground waterunderground water Permanent scatterers over built-up areas – Permanent scatterers over built-up areas –

PSInSAR can give very high precisions of ground PSInSAR can give very high precisions of ground subsidence.subsidence.

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Coal remaining

Developmentheadings to create newlongwall panels

Remaining chain pillarsbetween longwall panels

Goaf

Directionof mining

Main Headings

Longwallshearer

Extractedlongwallpanel

Goaf

Solid coal

longwallFuture

panellongwallCurrent

panel

Coal face

Typical Plan View Typical Plan View of Longwall Panelsof Longwall Panels

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Cross Section of a Typical Cross Section of a Typical Longwall FaceLongwall Face

Coal Seam

Direction of mining

Goaf

Longwallshearer& conveyor

Hydraulicroof supports

Notes:

width is removed), the

hydraulic roof supports areshearer, conveyor and

into the goaf.strata behind the supportsfurther collapse of thepushed forward allowing

(typically a slice of 1 metrecoal from the coal face,1. After cutting a slice of

width, the seam thicknessstrata geology, the longwall the stata depends upon theshearing and cracking ofcollapse and the associated2. The extent of the roof

and the depth of cover.

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Mine subsidence in 24 Hours Mine subsidence in 24 Hours – ERS Tandem DInSAR– ERS Tandem DInSAR

• Master: 29 October 1995, ERS-1; Slave: 30 October 1995, ERS-2;

• Remarkable result of subsidence in 24 hours

Subsidence

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PSInSAR result of ground subsidence in Perth

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Trend of groundwater level

1995 - 2004

(CSIRO)

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REVIEW - TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE REVIEW - TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTUREFUTURE

Scenarios for developing a sustainable human Scenarios for developing a sustainable human societysociety

Ecosocial market Ecosocial market ((Rademaker 2004 )Rademaker 2004 ) Decisions based on inputs from all stakeholders Decisions based on inputs from all stakeholders

(Azapagic 2005)(Azapagic 2005) Economic, social and ecological issues must be Economic, social and ecological issues must be

considered when developing sustainable societyconsidered when developing sustainable society Remote sensing deals primarily with ecological issuesRemote sensing deals primarily with ecological issues Linking to economic and social issues is essentialLinking to economic and social issues is essential

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Linking Remote Sensing to Social Sciences and Linking Remote Sensing to Social Sciences and EconomicsEconomics

Remote sensing determines ‘what’ and ‘where’ Remote sensing determines ‘what’ and ‘where’ of changesof changes

Social sciences aim to determine ‘why’ and Social sciences aim to determine ‘why’ and ‘who’‘who’

Economics deals with ‘how’ and ‘who’Economics deals with ‘how’ and ‘who’ Relating data from social sciences and Relating data from social sciences and

economics to remote sensingeconomics to remote sensing presents presents considerable difficulties. considerable difficulties.

The reason for suggesting frameworksThe reason for suggesting frameworks

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why & who

where & what

how & who

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why & who

where & what

how & who

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ConclusionsConclusions Definitions of sustainable development have been Definitions of sustainable development have been

givengiven Assessment of sustainability should be based on Assessment of sustainability should be based on

appropriate indicators - SDIsappropriate indicators - SDIs There is still a lot to be learned about SDIs to ensure There is still a lot to be learned about SDIs to ensure

sustainability of developmentsustainability of development The SDIs must consider relationships within the three The SDIs must consider relationships within the three

areas of sustainability – economic, social and areas of sustainability – economic, social and environmentalenvironmental

Examples demonstrate how remote sensing can Examples demonstrate how remote sensing can contribute to developing SDIscontribute to developing SDIs

There is still significant unexplored potential for There is still significant unexplored potential for remote sensing to contribute to further the remote sensing to contribute to further the development of SDIdevelopment of SDI