Modern Mapping Technology

Remote Sensing

• Birds-eye view over broad areas using airplanes or satellites
• Multispectral & Infrared (IR)
  • extromagnetic radiation
    • near infrared = vegetation
    • middle & far / thermal = weather satellites
      
      

Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

• Uses 24 orbiting satellites
• Pinpoints location within feet
  
  

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Spatial database
  • similar to address book (name, address, phone, e-mail, etc.)
    
  • parcel owner, flood zone, fire zone, utilities inventory, etc.
    
    
• Solve spatial problems using map layers known as GIS overlay analysis
  
  
• floodplains, wetlands, topography, vegetation, land use, land ownership, etc.
  • example, which structures are in floodplain or fire hazard...