INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE INTEGRATION AND USE OF REMOTELY SENSED DATA AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION-SYSTEMS

The developers as well as the users of remotely sensed data and geographic information system (GIS) techniques are associated with nearly all types of institutions in government, industry, and academia. Individuals in these various institutions often find the barriers to accepting remote sensing and GIS are not necessarily technical in nature, but can be attributed to the institutions themselves. Several major institutional issues that affect the technologies of remote sensing and GIS are data availability, data marketing and costs, equipment availability and costs, standards and practices, education and training, and organizational infrastructures. Not only are problems associated with these issues identified, but needs and opportunities also are discussed. An agenda of suggested research topics is presented that relates to problems associated with data, equipment, standards, education/training, and organization structures. With a greater focus of research on institutional issues, the understanding, integration, and use of remote sensing and GIS technologies could be enhanced.