Nature Conservancy Uses QuickBird
Imagery for Ecosystem Mapping
DigitalGlobe Products Support Mission to Map and Understand
Biodiversity
LONGMONT, Colo., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- DigitalGlobe(R)
announced that the Nature Conservancy is using DigitalGlobe's
QuickBird satellite imagery to assess biological diversity and
conservation progress in several regions throughout the U.S. and
worldwide. The Nature Conservancy leverages satellite imagery and
geospatial technologies to better understand,
monitor, and predict natural and
human
systems.
The Nature Conservancy has developed a rigorous science-based
approach to conserve plants, animals and ecological systems within a
diverse portfolio of conservation areas. First, within each project
area, the biodiversity is evaluated and a set of target species or
ecosystems is identified. For each of these targets, an ecological
model is developed to understand how the species or ecosystem
functions and which processes and resources are needed to maintain or
enhance its quality. Sources of stress and
threats to the targets, such as habitat destruction, invasive species
or water pollution, are determined. Then, strategies are formulated to
address those threats. Finally, the impact of those strategies is
monitored over time, and the process is repeated in an "adaptive
management" framework.
Satellite imagery and geographic information
systems (GIS) have proven to be critical tools that the Conservancy
employs at every stage of this iterative process.
"The Nature Conservancy works with many different types of
ecosystems and species that are threatened by various activities. We
are trying to find cost effective ways of inventorying and monitoring
landscapes worldwide," said Frank Biasi, director of Conservation
Systems for the Nature Conservancy. "High-resolution commercial
satellite imagery holds great promise for helping the Nature
Conservancy define and achieve its goals and measure its
results," he added.
Biasi cites several advantages of using QuickBird imagery for
creating the detailed maps his program requires. "With satellite
technology, we can acquire consistent imagery over large areas, and we
don't have to mosaic the pieces together as we would with aerial
imagery. This allows us to efficiently map large landscapes and
ecosystems at a level of detail that is meaningful to local
communities and conservation managers," he said.
According to Biasi, the QuickBird satellite's ability to fly over
remote locations not accessible by airplane is very attractive. Biasi
also says the repeatability and consistency of multiple image
collections, in addition to DigitalGlobe's large and growing archive,
will allow the Nature Conservancy to effectively measure change and
track progress over time. The high-resolution of QuickBird images, he
says, will be key for distinguishing between plant and vegetation
species.
"DigitalGlobe is extremely pleased to support the Nature
Conservancy's projects with QuickBird imagery products," said
Herb Satterlee, DigitalGlobe's CEO and chairman. "By providing
the high-quality service and products the Nature Conservancy requires,
we support the organization's mission to map and understand
biodiversity."
"We look forward to helping bring DigitalGlobe and the Nature
Conservancy together into a long-term collaborative relationship in
support of ecosystem mapping," said Jeff Campbell, president of
Spatial Solutions, Inc. (Bend, OR), the DigitalGlobe business partner
that provided QuickBird imagery to the Nature Conservancy.
About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, non-profit
organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities
representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands
and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its more
than one million members have been responsible for the protection of
more than 14 million acres in the United States
and have helped preserve more than 83 million acres in Latin America,
the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. The Conservancy has 400 offices
in 29 countries worldwide. For more information about The
Nature Conservancy visit its website at http://www.nature.org/.
About Spatial Solutions, Inc.
Spatial Solutions provides comprehensive natural and cultural
resource management solutions utilizing geo-spatial information such
as digital and analog remote sensing imagery, new and existing GIS
data layers, and/or ground-based information. For more information
visit http://www.spatial-solutions.com/.
About DigitalGlobe
DigitalGlobe is the clear leader in the global commercial Earth
imagery and geospatial information market. The company's technical
superiority and innovation, unparalleled commitment to customer
service, extensive business partner network and open systems
philosophy make DigitalGlobe the preferred supplier of satellite and
aerial imagery and value-added products. In 2001, DigitalGlobe
launched what remains the world's highest resolution commercial
satellite today, QuickBird. The company will launch its
next-generation WorldView system no later than 2006. QuickBird has
collected and stored in its ImageLibrary hundreds of thousands of
Earth image scenes covering over a hundred million square kilometers,
and collects an additional one million square kilometers each week.
These new and historical images are essential for customers who map
and plan for change in our world. DigitalGlobe is based in Longmont,
Colo., USA. For more information visit http://www.digitalglobe.com/.
DigitalGlobe is a registered trademark of DigitalGlobe Inc.
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s),
click appropriate link. Herb Satterlee http://www.profnet.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=346650
CONTACT: Chuck Herring of DigitalGlobe, +1-303-684-4020,
cherring@digitalglobe.com;
or Linda Lidov of Accent Relations,
+1-303-417-6303, linda@accentrelations.com,
for DigitalGlobe
