Course:CONS200/2023/The use of remote sensing technology for land use changes in British Columbia

Basic function of remote sensing technology

Introduction:

Remote sensing technology allows information to be gathered from actual things far away. More specifically, remote sensing apparatuses gather data by radiating cone-shaped radiation that reflects off the input from the environment. The use of remote sensing technology has completely changed how we research and comprehend land use change. Land use/land cover changes over a 30-year period were studied in selected areas using remote sensing techniques. Land use/land cover maps were produced by visual interpretation of remote sensing data for both periods .

With the help of this technology, data may be collected and analyzed without having to physically visit the study site. In recent years, The research of B.C. province on land use change has given remote sensing a lot more weight. The various landscapes of B.C. are well-known, yet they are constantly evolving as a result of human activity like mining and deforestation.

Researchers may efficiently gather information on the state of the land by using remote sensing technology to examine land use change in B.C.. the technology makes it possible to gather vast volumes of data, which, when examined, can offer important insights into the numerous changes in land use taking place in the region. Researchers can track the pace and scope of these changes as well as their efforts on the environment with the use of this technology.

Uses for remote sensing technologies range from observing changes in forest cover to tracking urban growth patterns. Inaccessible places like distant woodlands or mountainous regions might benefit greatly from remote sensing. These locations can be studied remotely by researchers without endangering their safety or harming the ecosystem. We’ll look at how remote sensing technologies can be used to track changes in land use in British Columbia. We will go through the advantages of employing remote sensing, and some of the methods the technology is being used to track changes in land use in B.C.. the reader will have a better knowledge of the significance of remote sensing technologies in analyzing land use change in B.C. by the end of the paper.

Land use change: Nature of the issue or problem Overview

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Land use changes are a widespread phenomenon and are increasingly being assessed using modeling methods, including statistical modeling. Models for land use changes help to interpret the causes and effects of land use dynamics, and assist policymakers in making informed decisions. Land use change also tightly linked with human activities, such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural intensification have significantly altered the planet's land surface, making many of these changes irreversible. The expansion of built environments, in particular, can make areas more vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, by reducing the land's ability to absorb water. Damming and redirecting watercourses for human purposes are other examples of human activities that have changed the world's land use. So we measure and collect data to effectively manage the land use change in order to reduce the natural impact thrown on human society.

Method 1: - The Agricultural Land Reserve map

The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) map in British Columbia is one of the earliest tools to support farmland and agricultural land use regulation . They collect soil surveys and Canadian Land Inventory (CLI) agricultural capability data, combined with proposed urban expansion areas on lower capability lands, to regulate land use in British Columbia. Farmland in British Columbia is one of the most important aspects because there is limited availability of the best soil types and prime land for planting .

In addition, ALR posted a document in 1979 explaining the classification system for agricultural capability, which shows how different soil ranges correspond to farming plants, supporting ALR mapping more accurately for farmland framing. Thus, people can use the classification map to determine which regions are suitable for planting and changing agricultural land. For example, land inventory class 1-4 lands can be considered critical agricultural land .

Limitation:

However, accessing the original ALC map is costly, requiring staff time. Moreover, incomplete information on previous unpredicted events has destroyed documents . Although there are certified copies of the original ALR map, errors occur due to the crinkling of paper resulting in "registration errors between 0.4–20.0 m" .

Solution:

A solution to this limitation would be to digitize the information and data for long-term preservation. Additionally, associating it with ArcGIS (Geographic Information Systems) format would allow for spatial analysis .

Method 2: – Agent-based modeling

The classification map to determine which regions are suitable for planting and changing agricultural land

An agent-based model for land use change comprises two parts: a map of the relevant area and a model with agents that represent human decision-making. The preferences of these agents can be established through methods such as expert judgment, questionnaire surveys, or artificial neural networks. ABMs enable the integration of multiple data sources, including expert knowledge, current trends, and existing models, to provide a context for agent behavior. They also support the representation of individual composite parameterized attributes from qualitative social survey data and enable the modeling of feedback loops between human and environmental systems.

Agent-based models have been applied to land use change modeling, incorporating empirical data to describe agent characteristics, beliefs, and knowledge. LUC is a complex process involving actors on various social and spatial levels, which has led to an increased interest in ABM and multi-agent system tools for LUC modeling. ABMs have been used for various applications, such as explaining spatial patterns of land use and policy analysis and planning, often using empirical-predictive models. For instance, ABMs have been coupled with biophysical models to study the consequences of decisions in land management and to understand structural and land use changes in agricultural systems. ABMs also allow for the implementation of agent behaviors and types within a model of land use transition, making them suitable for analyzing the impact of policies on land use.

Limitation:

The use of ABMs in land change science is limited to local-scale applications due to the computational and empirical resources required. It notes that ABMs are useful for complementing other modeling techniques, but some important details may be lost in the analysis while ABMs focus on easily quantifiable aspects of land use while disregarding factors such as outmigration, changes in techniques and input data, and the impact of regional and global economic variables.

Method 3: - Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA)

GSSHA is a hydrologic model that uses a structured grid to simulate the response of a watershed to hydrometeorological inputs. It includes a variety of processes, such as precipitation, snowfall, infiltration, evapotranspiration, runoff routing, soil moisture accounting, groundwater flow, sediment erosion and transport, and instream sediment transport. According to , each process is updated at different times during each time step to allow for simultaneous simulation of dissimilar response times. The model uses the Green and Ampt infiltration with redistribution method for calculating infiltration, the alternating direction explicit finite difference method for simulating overland flow routing, and an explicit solution of the diffusive wave equation for simulating channel routing. Water flux between the stream and the saturated groundwater is calculated using Darcy's law.

Use and Impact: Ground Water contribution to stream flow

The researchers used a case study of the Mainstem sub-watershed of the Kiskatinaw River watershed in British Columbia, Canada. They developed a model, Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA), to simulate the effects of climate change and land use changes on groundwater contribution to stream flow. The simulation results showed that climate change had a significant impact on the temporal patterns of groundwater contribution, which varied monthly, seasonally, and annually due to precipitation variability. When land use changes were combined with climate change scenarios, these contributions decreased due to changes in flow patterns with more surface runoff and less groundwater discharge.

Limitation:

It is crucial to include uncertainty analysis in future research to evaluate the average influence of climate change on groundwater input to stream flow due to the uncertainty in future climate change scenarios. As a result, rather than being exact predictions, the findings of this study should be viewed as indicative trends and broad approximations. It's probable that the outcomes will vary in areas with various land use patterns and monthly precipitation trends from the research area. For a complete understanding, the results should be contrasted with those from other climatic zones and watersheds with various types of land use. In the B1 greenhouse gas emission scenario, different climate models may produce various projections for the future trends in precipitation and temperature. Therefore, results from other climate models that predict precipitation and temperature should be used for comparison with the results obtained from this study.

Remote sensing tech: Current remedial actions and functions

In British Columbia, remote sensing technology has emerged as a key tool for managing land use change. Researchers can now observe and monitor changes in land use patterns in real time thanks to technology, which enables them to intervene promptly and effectively when necessary. According to Gillanders S. N. (2008), a wide range of change detection methods utilizing several dates of remotely sensed data have been researched and made operational as a result of the science and reporting information needs for monitoring dynamics in land cover over time. In B.C., this technology has been heavily utilized recently to control land use change and lessen its environmental effects. Using satellite imagery to spot changes in land use patterns is one way remote sensing technology operates. Satellite-based Earth observations (EO) provide a source of weather and environmental information and are increasingly being used for ecological and biodiversity conservation applications. To spot changes like deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural activity, satellite images can be studied. Understanding how ecosystems react to changes in land cover is crucial to balancing human demand for certain ecological services (such as agriculture, forestry, and urbanisation) while sustaining ecosystem function. The capacity to keep an eye on these patterns at different scales gives decision-makers the crucial information they need to manage resources sustainably . The information gathered from these photos can be used to develop models that forecast future changes in land use patterns, as well as to track the degree of change. Remote sensing technology can also be used to create baseline information for country carbon stocks and evaluate changes in carbon stocks that may have an impact on the global climate . It can offer data on biomass and vegetation that can be used to calculate carbon stocks. For instance, changes in vegetation form and density can be detected by satellite sensors, which can be used to calculate biomass and carbon stocks. Moreover, more precise data on the biomass and structure of vegetation can be obtained from airborne sensors.

Management of Land use change

Method 1: The creation of land use plans is a critical step taken by the government of British Columbia to manage land use change and promote sustainable development. These plans provide a framework for managing land use by identifying areas where land use changes are most likely to occur and developing strategies to ensure that these changes are made in a sustainable manner. The use of remote sensing technology has greatly facilitated this process by allowing the government to gather accurate and up-to-date information about the state of land use across the province. Remote sensing has allowed the government to identify areas where land use changes are taking place and monitor how these changes are affecting the ecosystem. For example, the use of satellite imagery has enabled the government to identify areas of forest loss due to logging, urbanization, or natural disturbances such as wildfires or insect infestations. The government can evaluate the efficacy of its management measures and decide how to spend resources for conservation and sustainable development by tracking these changes over time. Resource allocation and land use planning are both influenced by the data collected through remote sensing. For instance, the government might utilize this data to pinpoint regions that most urgently require conservation efforts, such as vital habitat for threatened or endangered species or regions with a high biodiversity . In order to manage natural resources sustainably and in a way that benefits the environment and nearby populations, decisions concerning their distribution can also be made using this knowledge. Examples of these resources include timber, minerals, and water.

Method 2: Another remedial action taken by the B.C. government is to create policies and regulations to control land use change. The government has developed policies to promote sustainable development and lessen the damaging effects of mining on the environment and to safeguard old-growth forests. Monitoring compliance with these norms and rules has benefited greatly from remote sensing technologies . For instance, the government has been keeping an eye on the province's mining operations using satellite photography to search for indications of environmental deterioration including water contamination, soil erosion, and deforestation. This data can be used to hold mining corporations responsible for any environmental law infractions and to help guide policy choices regarding how to strike a balance between economic development and environmental conservation. Similarly, remote sensing has been used to monitor compliance with regulations governing the logging of old-growth forests. By using satellite imagery to identify areas of old-growth forest and monitoring changes over time, the government can ensure that logging activities are limited to areas where they will have the least impact on the environment. This information can also be used to inform decisions about the designation of protected areas and the allocation of resources for conservation and sustainable development. In its efforts to control land use change and promote sustainable development, the government has found remote sensing technology to be useful instruments. Remote sensing assists the government in making knowledgeable policy decisions and holding businesses responsible for their actions by providing accurate and up-to-date information about the state of the environment and the effects of human activity.

Method 3: The B.C. government has been attempting to involve communities in land use planning. In order to create land use plans and policies that take into account these group’s needs and concerns, the government has been collaborating with First Nations communities, local governments, and other stakeholders . Several groups have received data and information using remote sensing technologies to assist them in making knowledgeable decisions regarding land use change. By giving stakeholders accurate and current information about the state of the environment and the effects of land use change, remote sensing technologies have played a significant part in these efforts. For instance, fragile habitats or regions with high ecological significance that need to be safeguarded from development can be found using satellite images. First Nations communities, local governments, and other stakeholders can utilize this information to assist them make well-informed decisions about how to manage land usage sustainably. By involving communities in land use planning and decision-making, the government is promoting a collaborative approach to managing land use change that recognizes the importance of community knowledge and expertise in the development of sustainable land use policies and aims to ensure that the benefits of economic development are shared equitably across all segments of society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, remote sensing technology has proven to be a reliable, and incredibly valuable tool while providing a comprehensive understanding of monitoring, analyzing, and evaluating land use changes in British Columbia. This technology has been advanced and improved through time by researchers and land managers using various remote sensing platforms and techniques such as satellite imagery and LiDAR, allowing us to further understand how land is being used and changed over time. By analyzing the data collected from remote sensing platforms, researchers have been able to identify key trends and drivers of land use changes, such as urbanization, forestry, and agriculture. They have also been able to quantify the impacts of these activities on ecosystem health, including changes in vegetation cover, water quality, and biodiversity. Moreover, remote sensing technology has allowed for more efficient and cost-effective land use monitoring and management procedures compared to traditional methods. Traditional usage of ground-based surveys and field measurements is often expensive, time-consuming, and labour intensive. On the other hand, remote sensing techniques enable large area surveys possible at once while collecting, recording, and analyzing databases. This allows land managers to make informed decisions for planning, conserving, and allocating resources. This information is critical for the effectiveness and efficiency of land use planning and management, which includes mitigating the impacts of human activities on the environment. Despite the incredible convenience and advantages remote sensing technology provides, some challenges and limitations need to be addressed. This includes the accuracy and resolution of remote sensing imagery and integration of data with other sources of information as they can vary between platforms and techniques used. Additionally, the interpretation of remote sensing data requires a very high level of technical expertise and knowledge of the local environment as conditions may vary. Nevertheless, remote sensing technology has greatly advanced our understanding of land use changes in British Columbia, and the continuous development of this technology has shown promising potential to play an increasingly important role in land use planning and management in the future.