> NASA Science News for October 11, 2002 10:00:00 AM > Earth-orbiting satellites have a wonderful view of > our planet's > fast-growing cities, but most city planners don't > have access to this "big > picture" from space. NASA-supported scientists are > working to change that. FULL STORY at > http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/11oct_sprawl.htm?list818490 > "One tool that the NAUTILUS researchers are using is like a computerized "crystal ball." It's a software package (based on a standard map-viewing program called ArcView) that lets city planners envision a hypothetical future of their city, assuming that it grew according to current zoning patterns. They can view simple maps, color-coded for environmental impacts, or they can choose to "fly through" a photorealistic 3D map of their future city to get a more visceral sense of things to come. More importantly, it lets them make changes and view the likely outcome of different growth scenarios.
"More-sophisticated techniques can wring all kinds of useful numbers from satellite data: estimates of water-quality degradation due to development, for example. Hard numbers like these are crucial for making and justifying the tough decisions public officials face." Several test cities in the Northeast have already started to change policy, based on data gathered this way. GSV Oversight __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
