Environmental processes cannot be considered spatially. Climate change, air and water pollution, land degradation, and biodiversity loss occur unevenly and depend on a variety of factors, from topography to human activity. Geographic information systems (GIS) allow this data to be combined and analyzed in a unified environment.

GIS is used to work with satellite images, climate indicators, observational data, and vector layers, making it a versatile tool for environmental problems.

Data Types and Sources

Various data sources are used for environmental analysis. 

Satellite data:

Copernicus: data on the state of the Earth's surface, vegetation, and water bodies 

Landsat: long-term satellite observations for change analysis

Climate data:

ERA5 / Copernicus Climate Data Store: temperature, precipitation, wind, and other climate parameters

Additional sources:

Global Forest Watch: data on forests and deforestation

NASA EarthData: climate and natural processes

OpenStreetMap: roads, water bodies, and infrastructure 

World Bank Data: socioeconomic indicators related to the environment 

Quality and relevance Data directly impacts the accuracy of analysis.

Environmental Monitoring

GIS is widely used to track changes over time. Systems enable analysis of deforestation, changes in water bodies, and urban growth.

For example, Global Forest Watch is used to monitor forest loss, and satellite data is used to calculate vegetation indices such as NDVI.

Change and Risk Analysis

Comparing data over different periods allows us to identify land use changes, urbanization, and soil degradation.

GIS is also used to assess natural risks:

• floods

• fires

• droughts

NASA EarthData allows us to analyze precipitation, temperature, and humidity, assessing the likelihood of extreme events.

Environmental Modeling

GIS allows us to model the spread of pollution, taking into account terrain and climatic conditions.

• Spatial overlay

• interpolation

• time series analysis

These methods help predict changes and assess impacts.

Applications in Various Fields

GIS is used in various environmental fields:

Water Resources:

• Watershed Analysis

• Water Quality Assessment

Urban Ecology:

• Air Pollution Analysis

• Green Space Distribution

Biodiversity:

• Species Range Determination

• Protected Area Planning

Tools

Various tools are used to work with environmental data.

Desktop GIS: QGIS, ArcGIS

Web GIS: GISCARTA

Specialized Platforms: Google Earth Engine 

The choice of tool depends on the task and the volume of data.

FAQ

What data is used in environmental GIS?
Satellite imagery, climate data, observations, and vector geodata.

Can open data be used?
Yes, Copernicus, NASA, and OpenStreetMap are widely used in environmental projects.

Which tools are best for analysis?
QGIS is suitable for complex analysis, while web platforms are suitable for quick visualization.

Key Takeaways

GIS enables the analysis of environmental processes through spatial data and temporal changes.

The quality of the source data directly impacts the accuracy of the results.

Modern technologies make environmental analysis more accessible and scalable.