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Sustainable water management practices and remote sensing.
Citation:
SCHAEFFER, B. A. Sustainable water management practices and remote sensing. Presented at Ocean Optics XXI, Glasgow, SCOTLAND, October 08 - 12, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Overview of remote sensing potential uses for sustainable management practices
Description:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s charge to protect human health and the environment requires a long-term commitment to creating sustainable solutions to environmental problems. The most direct way to ensure that management practices are achieving sustainability is to monitor the environment. Sustainable practices are often restricted to a localized group of stakeholders. However, these practices have a significant impact when widely implemented. Remote sensing technology has the potential to accelerate the engagement of communities and managers in the implementation and performance of best management practices. Over the last several decades, satellite technology has allowed measurements on a global scale, and is now proving useful in coastal waters, estuaries, lakes and reservoirs, which are relevant to water quality managers. Comprehensive water quality climate data records combined with mobile websites and smart phone applications can be integrated to rapidly assess water quality, thus providing new and enhanced decision analysis methodologies and improved temporal/spatial diagnostics. This presentation will use examples from numeric criteria development, green infrastructure initiatives, and state water quality monitoring programs to illustrate ways remote sensing and mobile devices can be used to advance environmental management practices.