Satellite Imagery and GIS Technology Improve Wildlife Conservation in Virunga National Parks, Africa

Written by EditorsChoice

Saturday, 18 August 2007

Ikonos Satellite Images and GIS technology supports wildlife conservation organizations with detailed terrain data of 1m in the Virunga National Parks in Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda. Houston, Texas (PRWEB) August 8, 2007 -- Satellite Imaging Corporation (SIC) in cooperation with the GeoEye Foundation (formerly Space Imaging) produced a 1m natural color Ikonos Satellite (http://www.satimagingcorp.com/satellite-sensors/ikonos.html) Image mosaic for an area covering the Virunga National Park in Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. This Ikonos Satellite Image data set was produced to support GIS Wildlife Habitat mapping projects for the assessment, management and monitoring of the Mountain Gorilla Habitat and the Landcover Changes (http://www.satimagingcorp.com/svc/land_cover_and_change_detection.html) in and around the National Parks in the region. The 1,060 sqr km Ikonos Satellite Image mosaic, with an Image resolution of 1m, was donated by the GeoEye Foundation and Satellite Imaging Corporation to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International conservation organization. "Threatened by habitat loss, poaching, deforestation and other factors, wildlife in Africa is declining in an alarming rate." Researchers and Conservationist's have been Monitoring Wildlife (http://www.satimagingcorp.com/svc/wildlife_and_marine_conservation.html) populations for decades, traditional capture and tag methods have been a primary tool, but they are not the most efficient when dealing with large animals in remote locations. High resolution satellite imagery, remote sensing and GIS technology will improve the way endangered wildlife in highly inaccessible areas of the world are counted and monitored. To aid in the understanding of why and where species are being lost, Satellite Imagery offers certain advantages such as watching vast areas of the earth all at once on a regular basis and by making temporal comparisons possible to analyze and monitor what is happening on the ground. Up-to-date high resolution satellites images and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can directly observe species habitats and their environment over time which allows researchers to predict the best remaining areas to protect and manage. For additional information on the news that is subject of this release and read more about wildlife conservation efforts supported by Satellite Imaging Corporation, contact Monique M. Romeijn or visit http://www.satimagingcorp.com Satellite Imaging Corporation (SIC) provides high resolution satellite imaging, remote sensing and GIS services to various industries and supports wildlife conservation activities. Contact: Monique M. Romeijn Satellite Imaging Corporation (1) 832-237-2900 Ext: 204 For more news on satellite remote sensing and GIS technology go to: http://news.satimagingcorp.com