MS-232009

Advanced Environmental Statistics

Section-B

Food security:
According to the World food summit “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have
physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary
needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. This definition gives rise to four
dimensions of food security: availability of food, accessibility (economically and physically),
utilization (the way it is used and assimilated by the human body) and stability of these three
dimensions. It is not enough to have sufficient food produced globally to meet demand –
enough food is produced globally now but there are still almost 800 million hungry people –
but that everybody has access to it, in the right quantity and quality, all the time. Climate change
threatens to reverse the progress made so far in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.
Climate change threatens to reverse the progress made so far in the fight against hunger and
malnutrition. As highlighted by the latest assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate change (IPCC), climate change augments and intensifies risks to food security for the
most vulnerable countries and populations. Four out of the eight key risks induced by climate
change identified by IPCC AR5 have direct consequences for food security:
• Loss of rural livelihoods and income
• Loss of marine and coastal ecosystems, and livelihoods
• Loss of terrestrial and inland water ecosystems, and livelihoods
• Food insecurity and breakdown of food systems

The earliest and the more impacted are the most vulnerable countries and populations,
including in arid and semi-arid areas, landlocked countries and small island developing states.
Climate change will also have broader impacts through effects on trade flows, food markets
and price stability and could introduce new risks for human health. Greatly expanded efforts to
respond to climate change are needed immediately to safeguard the capacity of food systems
to ensure global food security.

Climate Change Impacts on Food Security

Climate change generates considerable uncertainty about future water availability in many
regions. It will affect precipitation, runoff and snow/ice melt, with effects on hydrological
systems, water quality and water temperature, as well as on groundwater recharge. In many
regions of the world, increased water scarcity under climate change will present a major
challenge for climate adaptation. Sea-level rise will affect the salinity of surface and
groundwater in coastal areas.
Climate change is likely to affect the frequency and intensity of extreme events. The magnitude
of impacts of extreme events on agriculture is already high. FAO's recent analysis of 78 post-
disaster needs assessments in 48 developing countries spanning the 2003–2013 period shows
that 25 percent of all economic losses and damages inflicted by medium- and large-scale
climate hazards such as droughts, floods and storms in developing countries affect the
agriculture sectors.
Climate change has both direct and indirect impacts on agricultural production systems.
Direct impacts include effects caused by a modification of physical characteristics such as
temperature levels and rainfall distribution on specific agricultural production systems. Indirect
effects are those that affect production through changes on other species such as pollinators,
pests, disease vectors and invasive species. These indirect effects can play a major role. They

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are much more difficult to assess and project given the high number of interacting parameters
and links, many of which are still unknown.
The projected impacts of climate change on major crop yields are now well documented, based
on two decades of research. Globally, negative impacts are more commonly found than positive
ones. Observations of the effects of climate trends on crop production indicate that climate
change has already negatively affected wheat and maize yields in many regions, as well as
globally.
According to results from major agricultural model intercomparison projects, despite
remaining uncertainties related to how models account for the representation of combined
carbon dioxide fertilization, ozone stress and high temperature effects, there is agreement on
the direction of yield changes in many major agricultural regions at both low and high latitudes,
with strong negative impacts especially at higher levels of warming and at low latitudes. IPCC
has expressed high confidence for crop production to be consistently and negatively affected
by climate change in the future in low-latitude countries, while climate change may have
positive or negative effects in northern latitudes. Although some high-latitude regions may
become more climatically viable for crops, soil quality and water availability might constrain
sustained agricultural production increases in these locations.
After 2050, the risk of more severe impacts increases. Overall, climate change will also
increase crop yield variability in many regions. Potential impacts on other crops than major
cereals have been less studied.
climate change, affecting areas previously immune, and thus less prepared, biologically and
institutionally, to manage and control them, with potentially higher negative impacts. These
changes may also counter-balance direct positive effects of climate change. For instance, in
high-latitude regions, climatic conditions will become more favourable to crops, but also to
weeds and pests. Climate change affects livestock production in multiple ways, both directly
and indirectly. The most important impacts are experienced in animal productivity and health
as well as yields of forages and feed crops. In various countries in sub-Saharan Africa, 20 to
60 percent losses in animal numbers were recorded during serious drought events in the past
decades. In South Africa, dairy yields may decrease by 10 to 25 percent because of climate
change. Increased temperatures and reduced precipitation can cause important drops in forage
production, such as the 60 percent deficit of green fodder during the 2003 summer in France.
Climate change and climate variability are impacting forests and their capacity to deliver
the wide range of goods and environmental services on which an estimated 1.6 billion people
fully or partly depend for their livelihoods and resilience. Evidence shows that in various
regions climate change is contributing to decreased productivity and dieback of trees from
drought and temperature stress, increased wind and water erosion, increased storm damage,
increased frequency of forest fires, pest and disease outbreaks, landslides and avalanches,
changes in ranges of forest plants and animals, inundation and flood damage, saltwater
intrusion and sea- level rise, and damage from coastal storms. This can jeopardize the
contribution of forests to the resilience of agricultural systems, such as for instance the water
and temperature regulation at landscape level and the provision of habitats for important
species like pollinators.
Climate change affects capture fisheries and the development of aquaculture in marinen and
freshwater environments. Impacts occur as a result of both gradual atmospheric warming and
associated physical (sea and inland water surface temperature, ocean circulation, waves and
storm systems) and chemical changes (salinity content, oxygen concentration and acidification)
of the aquatic environment. Increased occurrence of coral reef bleaching has been observed,
threatening habitats of one out of four marine species. Various fish species are already
migrating poleward, resulting in the rapid “tropicalization” of mid- and high-latitude systems.
A large- scale redistribution of global marine fish catch potential is forecast, with a decrease of

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up to 40 percent in the tropics, and an increase of 30 to 70 percent in high-latitude regions. In

the Mediterranean, it has been observed that invasive species from lower-latitude regions have
arrived in recent years at the rate of one new introduction every four weeks. Abundance and
species diversity of riverine fish are particularly sensitive to disturbances in the quantity and
timing of water flows, and especially to lower water levels during dry seasons. Pressures on
river flows may be exacerbated by human action to retain water in reservoirs and irrigation
channels.
Favourable conditions for all production will move geographically. Optimizing these
conditions will thus require changes in crops, livestock, trees, and aquatic species breeding and
management. To benefit from potential positive effects, such as longer growing seasons in
some cold regions, would, in most cases, require significant changes in agricultural systems
and practices, to adapt to new conditions and counteract potential negative changes, such as
proliferation of pests, in order to effectively translate into production growth.

Climate change affects food security in all its dimensions: access, availability, utilization
and stability
As shown above, climate change affects food production, and thus food availability. Climate
change will impact the livelihoods and income of small-scale food producers and also, through
food price increases and volatility, the livelihoods of poor net food buyers, restricting access
to food. Impacts of climate change on nutrition have been much less studied. Studies point to
potential changes in the nutritional quality of some foods (e.g. reduced concentration in
proteins and in some vitamins and minerals), due to elevated CO2, particularly for flour from
major cereals and cassava. Climate change can have a variety of impacts on the quality of
drinking water, which is key to the good absorption of nutrients. Climate change has been
found to have an impact on food safety, particularly on incidence and prevalence of food-borne
diseases. Increased climate variability, increased frequency and intensity of extreme events as
well as slow ongoing changes will affect the stability of food supply, access and utilization.
The populations at greatest risk are those that are dependent on agriculture and natural
resources, with livelihoods that are highly exposed to climate change impacts, and who have
very limited capacity to respond. In regions with high levels of food insecurity and inequality,
increased frequency of droughts will particularly affect poorer households and may
disproportionately affect women, given their vulnerability and restricted access to resources.
Gender and social differences discriminate against people's access to adaptation options, or
even information, such as weather and climate data. Indigenous peoples, who depend on the
environment and its biodiversity for their food security and nutrition, are at high risk–especially
those living in areas where significant impacts are expected such as the Arctic, mountain areas,
the Pacific islands, coastal and other low-lying areas. Fishers, fish farmers, post-harvest
workers and their dependent communities and infrastructure are particularly exposed. In some
cases, to cope with risks and changes, the only option can be to migrate, nationally or
internationally, with a range of implications.

Impacts on production translate into economic and social consequences, affecting

food security
Impact translates from climate to the environment, to the productive sphere, to economic and
social dimensions, bringing a range of additional risks on availability of food, on access to food
and utilization of food, as well as on the stability of these characteristics, for both farm and
non-farm households.
At the farm/household level, climate change impacts may reduce income level and stability,
through effects on productivity, production costs or prices. Such variations can drive sales of

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productive capital, such as cattle, which reduces long-term household productive capacity.
Exposure to risks lowers incentives to invest in production systems, often with negative
impacts on long-term productivity, returns and sustainability. Reductions and risks to
agricultural income have also been shown to have effects on household capacity and
willingness to spend on health and education. Evidence from recent analyses of the impacts of
various types of weather anomalies on farm income indicates that the impacts are greatest for
the poorest farmers.

At national level, exposure to climate risks can trigger shocks on agricultural production and
food availability, with risks of market disruptions, effects on supply and storage systems, as
well as increases in agricultural commodity prices (food and feed), impacting accessibility and
stability of food supplies for the entire population, particularly in countries with significant
shares of the population spending a large part of their income on food. This triggers macro-
economic effects for countries for which agriculture is an important part of GDP and/or
constitutes an important source of employment. Climatic risks can also hinder agricultural
development by discouraging investments.

At global level, climatic shocks impacting areas of global importance for food supplies can
have remote impacts through effects on: (i) supply flows and food price spikes, with increased
market volatility; and (ii) impacts on bilateral contracts and/or import/export behaviour with
disruption of trade patterns. Food price volatility is likely to be exacerbated by climate change.
Trade is expected to play a major role in adjusting to climate-change-driven shifts in
agricultural and food production patterns. Recent experience indicates that climate change
effects on food price volatility are greatly influenced by domestic policies, with export bans
contributing to price fluctuations. Ultimately, global markets will not be accessible to the
poorest countries and the poorest populations without sufficient purchasing power.

RESPONSES: ENSURING FOOD SECURITY AND GOOD NUTRITION IN THE

CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Social protection programmes Increasing the efficiency of scarce resource use in productive
systems Adaptation measures for crops A range of adaptation options is available for livestock
production Healthy, diversified forest ecosystems are more resilient Adaptation action can be
conducted at landscape level, Find the topic details at:
https://www.fao.org/3/i5188e/I5188E.pdf

GIS (Geographic Information System)

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking,
and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface. GIS can show many different kinds
of data on one map, such as streets, buildings, and vegetation. This enables people to more
easily see, analyze, and understand patterns and relationships.
GIS technology is a crucial part of spatial data infrastructure, which the White House defines
as “the technology, policies, standards, human resources, and related activities necessary to
acquire, process, distribute, use, maintain, and preserve spatial data.”

GIS can use any information that includes location. The location can be expressed in many
different ways, such as latitude and longitude, address, or ZIP code.

Many different types of information can be compared and contrasted using GIS. The system
can include data about people, such as population, income, or education level. It can include

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information about the landscape, such as the location of streams, different kinds of vegetation,
and different kinds of soil. It can include information about the sites of factories, farms, and
schools, or storm drains, roads, and electric power lines.

With GIS technology, people can compare the locations of different things in order to discover
how they relate to each other. For example, using GIS, a single map could include sites that
produce pollution, such as factories, and sites that are sensitive to pollution, such as wetlands
and rivers. Such a map would help people determine where water supplies are most at risk.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that analyzes and displays
geographically referenced information. It uses data that is attached to a unique location.

Most of the information we have about our world contains a location reference: Where are
USGS streamgages located? Where was a rock sample collected? Exactly where are all of a
city's fire hydrants?

If, for example, a rare plant is observed in three different places, GIS analysis might show that
the plants are all on north-facing slopes that are above an elevation of 1,000 feet and that get
more than ten inches of rain per year. GIS maps can then display all locations in the area that
have similar conditions, so researchers know where to look for more of the rare plants.

By knowing the geographic location of farms using a specific fertilizer, GIS analysis of farm
locations, stream locations, elevations, and rainfall will show which streams are likely to carry
that fertilizer downstream.

These are just a few examples of the many uses of GIS in earth sciences, biology, resource
management, and many other fields

Data Capture

Data Formats

GIS applications include both hardware and software systems. These applications may include
cartographic data, photographic data, digital data, or data in spreadsheets.

Cartographic data are already in map form, and may include such information as the location
of rivers, roads, hills, and valleys. Cartographic data may also include survey data and mapping
information that can be directly entered into a GIS.

Photographic interpretation is a major part of GIS. Photo interpretation involves analyzing

aerial photographs and assessing the features that appear.

Digital data can also be entered into GIS. An example of this kind of information is computer
data collected by satellites that show land use—the location of farms, towns, and forests.

Remote sensing provides another tool that can be integrated into a GIS. Remote sensing
includes imagery and other data collected from satellites, balloons, and drones.

Finally, GIS can also include data in table or spreadsheet form, such as population
demographics. Demographics can range from age, income, and ethnicity to recent purchases
and internet browsing preferences.

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GIS technology allows all these different types of information, no matter their source or
original format, to be overlaid on top of one another on a single map. GIS uses location as the
key index variable to relate these seemingly unrelated data.

Putting information into GIS is called data capture. Data that are already in digital form, such
as most tables and images taken by satellites, can simply be uploaded into GIS. Maps, however,
must first be scanned, or converted to digital format.

The two major types of GIS file formats are raster and vector. Raster formats are grids of cells
or pixels. Raster formats are useful for storing GIS data that vary, such as elevation or satellite
imagery. Vector formats are polygons that use points (called nodes) and lines. Vector formats
are useful for storing GIS data with firm borders, such as school districts or streets.

Spatial Relationships

GIS technology can be used to display spatial relationships and linear networks. Spatial
relationships may display topography, such as agricultural fields and streams. They may also
display land-use patterns, such as the location of parks and housing complexes.

Linear networks, sometimes called geometric networks, are often represented by roads, rivers,
and public utility grids in a GIS. A line on a map may indicate a road or highway. With GIS
layers, however, that road may indicate the boundary of a school district, public park, or other
demographic or land-use area. Using diverse data capture, the linear network of a river may be
mapped on a GIS to indicate the stream flow of different tributaries.

GIS must make the information from all the various maps and sources align, so they fit together
on the same scale. A scale is the relationship between the distance on a map and the actual
distance on Earth.

Often, GIS must manipulate data because different maps have different projections. A
projection is the method of transferring information from Earth’s curved surface to a flat piece
of paper or computer screen. Different types of projections accomplish this task in different
ways, but all result in some distortion. To transfer a curved, three-dimensional shape onto a flat
surface inevitably requires stretching some parts and squeezing others.

A world map can show either the correct sizes of countries or their correct shapes, but it can’t
do both. GIS takes data from maps that were made using different projections and combines
them so all the information can be displayed using one common projection.

GIS Maps

Once all the desired data have been entered into a GIS system, they can be combined to produce
a wide variety of individual maps, depending on which data layers are included. One of the
most common uses of GIS technology involves comparing natural features with human
activity.

For instance, GIS maps can display what man-made features are near certain natural features,
such as which homes and businesses are in areas prone to flooding.

GIS technology also allows users to “dig deep” in a specific area with many kinds of
information. Maps of a single city or neighborhood can relate such information as average

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income, book sales, or voting patterns. Any GIS data layer can be added or subtracted to the
same map.

GIS maps can be used to show information about numbers and density. For example, GIS can
show how many doctors there are in a neighborhood compared with the area’s population.

With GIS technology, researchers can also look at change over time. They can use satellite data
to study topics such as the advance and retreat of ice cover in polar regions, and how that
coverage has changed through time. A police precinct might study changes in crime data to
help determine where to assign officers.

One important use of time-based GIS technology involves creating time-lapse photography
that shows processes occurring over large areas and long periods of time. For example, data
showing the movement of fluid in ocean or air currents help scientists better understand how
moisture and heat energy move around the globe.

GIS technology sometimes allows users to access further information about specific areas on a
map. A person can point to a spot on a digital map to find other information stored in the GIS
about that location. For example, a user might click on a school to find how many students are
enrolled, how many students there are per teacher, or what sports facilities the school has.

GIS systems are often used to produce three-dimensional images. This is useful, for example,
to geologists studying earthquake faults.

GIS technology makes updating maps much easier than updating maps created manually.
Updated data can simply be added to the existing GIS program. A new map can then be printed
or displayed on screen. This skips the traditional process of drawing a map, which can be time-
consuming and expensive.

GIS Jobs

People working in many different fields use GIS technology. GIS technology can be used for
scientific investigations, resource management, and development planning.

Many retail businesses use GIS to help them determine where to locate a new store. Marketing
companies use GIS to decide to whom to market stores and restaurants, and where that
marketing should be.

Scientists use GIS to compare population statistics to resources such as drinking water.
Biologists use GIS to track animal-migration patterns.

City, state, or federal officials use GIS to help plan their response in the case of a natural
disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane. GIS maps can show these officials what
neighborhoods are most in danger, where to locate emergency shelters, and what routes people
should take to reach safety.

Engineers use GIS technology to support the design, implementation, and management of
communication networks for the phones we use, as well as the infrastructure necessary for
internet connectivity. Other engineers may use GIS to develop road networks and
transportation infrastructure.

There is no limit to the kind of information that can be analyzed using GIS technology.

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GPS (Global positioning system)

What is GPS?

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is a radio navigation system used on land, sea,
and air to determine the exact location, time and velocity irrespective of weather conditions.
The US military first used it in 1960.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system using satellites, a receiver and
algorithms to synchronize location, velocity and time data for air, sea and land travel.

The satellite system consists of a constellation of 24 satellites in six Earth-centered orbital

planes, each with four satellites, orbiting at 13,000 miles (20,000 km) above Earth and traveling
at a speed of 8,700 mph (14,000 km/h).

While we only need three satellites to produce a location on earth’s surface, a fourth satellite
is often used to validate the information from the other three. The fourth satellite also moves
us into the third-dimension and allows us to calculate the altitude of a device. GPS is a system
of 30+ navigation satellites circling Earth. We know where they are because they constantly
send out signals. A GPS receiver in your phone listens for these signals. Once the receiver
calculates its distance from four or more GPS satellites, it can figure out where you are.

A brief history of GPS

Humans have been practicing navigation for thousands of years using the sun, moon, stars, and
later, the sextant. GPS was an advancement of the 20th century made possible by space-age
technology. GPS technology has been used globally throughout history. The launch of Russia’s
Sputnik I satellite in 1957 ushered in the possibility of geolocation capabilities and soon after,
the U.S. Department of Defense began using it for submarine navigation. In 1983, the U.S.
government made GPS publically available, but still kept control of the available data. It wasn’t
until 2000 that companies and the general public gained full access to the use of GPS,
eventually paving the way for greater GPS advancement.

Main elements of GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is made up of

satellites, ground stations, and receivers.

GPS is a system. It’s made up of three parts: satellites,

ground stations, and receivers. Satellites act like the stars in
constellations—we know where they are supposed to be at
any given time. The ground stations use radar to make sure
they are actually where we think they are. A receiver, like
you might find in your phone or in your parent’s car, is
constantly listening for a signal from these satellites. The receiver figures out how far away
they are from some of them. Once the receiver calculates its distance from four or more
satellites, it knows exactly where you are. From miles up in space your location on the ground
can be determined with incredible precision! They can usually determine where you are within
a few yards of your actual location. More high-tech receivers, though, can figure out where you
are within a few inches!

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In brief, GPS is made up of three different components, called segments, that work together to
provide location information.

The three segments of GPS are:

 Space (Satellites) — The satellites circling the Earth, transmitting signals to users on
geographical position and time of day.
 Ground control — The Control Segment is made up of Earth-based monitor stations,
master control stations and ground antenna. Control activities include tracking and
operating the satellites in space and monitoring transmissions. There are monitoring
stations on almost every continent in the world, including North and South America,
Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.
 User equipment — GPS receivers and transmitters including items like watches,
smartphones and telematic devices.

How does GPS technology work?

GPS works through a technique called trilateration. Used to calculate location, velocity and
elevation, trilateration collects signals from satellites to output location information. It is often
mistaken for triangulation, which is used to measure angles, not distances. Satellites orbiting
the earth send signals to be read and interpreted by a GPS device, situated on or near the earth’s
surface. To calculate location, a GPS device must be able to read the signal from at least four
satellites.

Each satellite in the network circles the earth twice a day, and each satellite sends a unique
signal, orbital parameters and time. At any given moment, a GPS device can read the signals
from six or more satellites. A single satellite broadcasts a microwave signal which is picked
up by a GPS device and used to calculate the distance from the GPS device to the satellite.
Since a GPS device only gives information about the distance from a satellite, a single satellite
cannot provide much location information. Satellites do not give off information about angles,
so the location of a GPS device could be anywhere on a sphere’s surface area.

When a satellite sends a signal, it creates a circle with a radius measured from the GPS device
to the satellite. When we add a second satellite, it creates a second circle, and the location is
narrowed down to one of two points where the circles intersect. With a third satellite, the
device’s location can finally be determined, as the device is at the intersection of all three
circles. That said, we live in a three-dimensional world, which means that each satellite
produces a sphere, not a circle. The intersection of three spheres produces two points of
intersection, so the point nearest Earth is chosen.

Here is an illustration of satellite ranging:

As a GPS device moves, the radius (distance to the

satellite) changes. When the radius changes, new spheres
are produced, giving us a new position. We can use that
data, combined with the time from the satellite, to
determine velocity, calculate the distance to our
destination and the ETA.

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What are the uses of GPS?

GPS is a powerful and dependable tool for businesses and organizations in many different
industries. Surveyors, scientists, pilots, boat captains, first responders, and workers in mining
and agriculture, are just some of the people who use GPS on a daily basis for work. They use
GPS information for preparing accurate surveys and maps, taking precise time measurements,
tracking position or location, and for navigation. GPS works at all times and in almost all
weather conditions.

There are five main uses of GPS:

1. Location — Determining a position.

2. Navigation — Getting from one location to another.
3. Tracking — Monitoring object or personal movement.
4. Mapping — Creating maps of the world.
5. Timing — Making it possible to take precise time measurements.

GPS use cases include:

 Emergency Response: During an emergency or natural disaster, first responders use

GPS for mapping, following and predicting weather, and keeping track of emergency
personnel. In the EU and Russia, the eCall regulation relies on GLONASS technology
(a GPS alternative) and telematics to send data to emergency services in the case of a
vehicle crash, reducing response time. Read more about GPS tracking for first
responders.
 Entertainment: GPS can be incorporated into games and activities like Pokémon Go
and Geocaching.
 Health and fitness: Smartwatches and wearable technology can track fitness activity
(such as running distance) and benchmark it against a similar demographic.
 Construction, mining and off-road trucking: From locating equipment, to measuring
and improving fleet asset allocation, GPS enables companies to increase return on their
assets.
Check out our posts on construction vehicle tracking and off-road equipment tracking.
 Transportation: Logistics companies implement telematics systems to improve driver
productivity and safety. A lorry tracker can be used to support fleet route optimisation,
fuel efficiency, driver safety and fleet compliance.

Other industries where GPS is used include: agriculture,

autonomous vehicles, sales and services, the military, mobile
communications, security, and fishing.

How accurate is GPS?

GPS device accuracy depends on many variables, such as the number of satellites available,
the ionosphere, the urban environment and more.

Some factors that can hinder GPS accuracy include:

 Physical obstructions: Arrival time measurements can be skewed by large masses like
mountains, buildings, trees and more.

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 Atmospheric effects: Ionospheric delays, heavy storm cover and solar storms can all
affect GPS devices.
 Ephemeris: The orbital model within a satellite could be incorrect or out-of-date,
although this is becoming increasingly rare.
 Numerical miscalculations: This might be a factor when the device hardware is not
designed to specifications.
 Artificial interference: These include GPS jamming devices or spoofs.

Accuracy tends to be higher in open areas with no adjacent tall buildings that can block signals.
This effect is known as an urban canyon. When a device is surrounded by large buildings, like
in downtown Manhattan or Toronto, the satellite signal is first blocked, and then bounced off
a building, where it is finally read by the device. This can result in miscalculations of the
satellite distance.

Application of GPS in environmental management

GPS is a satellite-based navigation system known as the global positioning system. It consists
of around 30 navigation satellites on earth and it’s majorly used to show the location and
position of objects. In addition to showing one’s location, it also gives the time information of
the same objects. It is majorly applied in various sectors including; environment, military,
commercial and civil users all over the world.

1. Evaluates an area’s wildlife:

GPS technology is essential in strategic planning as well as the conservation efforts of
the forests. Coordinates provided for by the GPS are incorporated with imagery hence
making wildlife evaluation in most of the impenetrable forests possible.

2. Management of logging in forests:

GPS is used to collect information including mapping which helps different users to
manage how many trees get cut and by who.

3. Understanding forecast changes in the environment:

Meteorologists often use the GPS to determine the atmosphere’s water content which
helps them in providing accurate weather forecasts.

4. Mapping the perimeter of forest fires:

GPS technology is attached to helicopters which
helps the firefighter’s personnel to easily locate the
forest fires. Besides the fire Personnel used the GPS
to easily locate important resources like the cabins
and bridges and put the fires off to protect people
and other things from destruction.

5. Tracks the movement and spread oil spills:

GPS is normally installed in buoys which help in the tracing of oil spills movements.
Majorly this technology has been used to help clean-up crews to trace and respond to
oil spills. Oil spills are dangerous to marine life, people as well as the environment.
GPS information collected from floating buoys that have GPS incorporated into them
has helped response teams to get to the spills fast.

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6. Helps tracing and preservation of declining populations:

Endangered species such as the mountain gorillas of Rwanda are mapped and tracked
using GPS technology and this helps preserve these species. Other species of birds.

7. Anticipation of earthquakes:
GPS technology provides scientists with the exact position information which helps
them understand the timeline of the earthquakes and hence device protective measures
against them to most of the earthquake-prone areas. Scientists through the help of the
GPS study how earthquakes occur in time and also they get to predict the next time one
would occur and a precise location.

8. Crustal and seismic monitoring:

Actual and precise positioning information
provided for by GPS technology enables scientists
to monitor the occurrence of any crustal and seismic
activities.

9. Analysis of environmental concerns:

Information provided by GPS which also has GIS packages proves to be essential as
they provide comprehensive data related to the environment. These environmental
concerns may range from forest fires, oil spills, and population extinction among others.

10. Accurate tracking of environmental disasters:

Environmental disasters such as oil spills and fires are easily tracked and monitored.
These disasters are therefore easily managed once they occur. Besides, GPS is essential
for accurate environmental tracking.

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