The global positioning system is a radio navigation system that is facilitated by a network of space satellites and used to provide accurate 3D position, time, and geographic data for suitable users. In natural resource management, geographical data is very essential. This data is efficiently made available by the use of GPS technology. GPS receivers such as navigation devices track the signals in order to compute the position, time, and maybe speed of an object at a particular location on the earth’s surface. Geographic Positioning System provides accurate information that is real-time, continuous, and all-weather hence an important system in the management of natural resources. Some of its applications include its use in geodetic control surveys, mass movement observations, navigation, and geodynamics surveys among others ("Commercial Applications that Integrate GIS and GPS," 2006, p. 33). In natural resource management, this information system is vital in the optimal utilization and development of natural resources. For instance, the National Natural Resources Information System is a program that was initiated for purpose of providing information on natural resources such as land, forests, soils, water, and minerals in relation to demographic data and infrastructure which are all critical for decision making in natural resource management. GPS-provided information is necessary for monitoring activities that happen around and within the natural resources and real-time in-situ information informs appropriate decision-making to ensure proper management of the resources. For purposes of this study, the Geographical Information System (GIS) is an important area because it provides integrated spatial datasets on the above-mentioned natural resources. The combination of parameters such as soil, land cover, groundwater, landform, slope, and land use provides comprehensive information about the production activities that are all important aspects of the decision potential of a GIS package. GIS particularly decodes spatial information and makes analysis of all spatial data obtained from aerial surveys, remote sensing, and field surveys while integrating it with the existing reports and mappings. Communication of complex natural resource information is a challenge that requires effective visualization (Information Resources Management Association, 2013, p. 61). It is the role of GIS to visualize such geospatial data for purposes of monitoring earth surface features and occurrences. There are many applications of GPS and GIS areas as regards natural resource management. These include weather and climate studies, drought assessment and monitoring, land-use mapping, monitoring of water resources, crop studies, land cover mapping, and soil moisture, survey, and mapping among others. For instance, in drought assessment and monitoring, the growth cycle of vegetation is monitored at regular intervals in order to assess the amount of loss. The vegetation index which provides information on the moisture stress is assessed and forms a major component in the assessment of agricultural drought. Access to such drought information aids in decision-making that is aimed at sound resource management. In groundwater management, aerial mapping and monitoring are facilitated by GPS/GIS technology which evaluates the measure of surface water reservoirs. Groundwater distribution is dependent on spatiotemporal variations and surface topography and in this respect, the GIS techniques are essential in assessing the water requirements of the vegetation. Through remote sensing, decision-makers can ascertain, through groundwater prospect maps, the potential areas for drilling of wells. The GPS data can be used to provide synoptic information which is required in the mapping of surface waters, estimation of the water volumes and the rate of spread of the same waters (Morain, 1999, p. 43). This information is useful in forecasting and as a result, provides the basis for better planning and scheduling of irrigation and management of drought spells.
References
Commercial Applications that Integrate GIS and GPS. (2006). Intelligent Positioning , 81-95. doi:10.1002/0470035668.ch4
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Information Resources Management Association. (2013). Geographic information systems: Concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications . Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.
Morain, S. A. (1999). GIS solutions in natural resource management: Balancing the technical-political equation . Santa Fe, NM: OnWord Press.
