World Bank
Environment Department
Remote Sensing

http://www.worldbank.org

AGENDA 21 CHAPTERS AND PROGRAMME AREAS OF PARTICULAR FOCUS OR INTEREST:
See check list in annex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF AND LINKS TO INFORMATION ACTIVITIES:

Data Collection, Observation, Monitoring

Coordination of data necessary since data for creating indicators is obtained from different international organizations and bodies.

Methodologies, Quality Control, Harmonization
 The focus of indicator work needs to be on ensuring a meaningful information system in the medium term, probably designed around an innovative GIS tool, which the World Bank Environment Department in cooperation with others is trying to develop.

Assessment and Analysis
Forests: land use changes; area, volume, distribution and value; input/output and recycling ratios. Water: intensity of use; accessibility to the population; and water efficiency measures. Land (Soil) quality: human-induced soil degradation; climatic classes and soil constraints. Pollution abatement: concentration of key pollutants in main sinks, air and water. Biodiversity: biodiversity per se, socio-economic conditions, community participation, legal framework, institutional framework, training. Natural capital indicators: monetary value of natural resources as raw materials; GEF with WRI - assess global distribution of natural capital. Degree of urbanization and institutional capacity are taken into account.

Examples of data coordination: for forestry with FAO, for water with UNEP GEMS, for biodiversity with GEF and WRI.

Techniques used for land quality indicators - through case studies (e.g. intensively irrigated agriculture, acid tropical savannahs and degraded pressured pastoral cropping systems). The Industrial Pollution Projection System (IPPS) and the Decision Support System (DSS) generate pollution load measures when fed standard sets of industrial production statistics. For biodiversity can use remote sensing, censuses and some attributes particularly tabulated data of GIS. Policy paper on enhancement of information systems to connect sources and uses of information being prepared. Also need to have a fine spatial grain in the reporting system.

Indicators
Framework for indicators across the broad expanse of issues for environmentally sustainable development (ESD). Where environmental issues cut across conventional sectoral lines a lead role is played in production of detailed performance indicators. Pressure-state-response framework has been adopted and covers economic, socio-cultural and ecological clusters. For example - pressure indicators are designed from systems that consider the sources of pollution and the trade-offs between economic benefits and health or environmental costs. National level indicators of air and water pollution (accords with OECD Core Set of Indicators for Environmental Performance Reviews). Several clusters of indicators are envisaged for Biodiversity under a GEF activity. National level indicators of natural capital e.g. natural resources as a factor of production.

Modelling

Expert Systems/Decision-support systems
Working with sectoral experts to allow task managers scope for "tailoring" indicators to local realities while still producing information that can culminate and refine relevant portions of the ESD framework.

Early Warning Mechanisms
The Industrial Pollution Projection System (IPPS) is designed mainly to identify where toxics emitted by manufacturing processes seem a major concern.

Reports/Information dissemination

Network Development and Support

Capacity-Building
Advice will be provided to decision-makers based on results given by indicators.

Internet Access

http://www.worldbank.org
Information about the World Bank, it's activities and structure. Contains press releases and current events, and many documents relating to bank projects and activities. Links to their associated research departments. Publications catalogue with abstracts, with some full-text documents available online. Links to associated financial institutions.

Responsible Office/Person (for inquiries or follow-up):
Environment Department
The World Bank
1818 H Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433, USA
Tel: +1 202 477 1234
Fax: +1 202 477 0565

Earthwatch Focal Point

Date of preparation: July 1994 for text, March 1997 for table

Remote sensing work is undertaken under a programme for developing and managing applications of remote sensing and natural resource information management technologies within the Environmental Operations and Strategy Division (ENVOS) of the Environment Department. The Centre for Earth Resources Assessment initially at headquarters under ENVOS focuses on cost-effective techniques and methods for natural resource surveys, environment baseline studies and resource inventories and is now located in the regions.

AGENDA 21 CHAPTERS AND PROGRAMME AREAS OF PARTICULAR FOCUS OR INTEREST:
See check list in annex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF AND LINKS TO INFORMATION ACTIVITIES:

Data Collection, Observation, Monitoring

Data collected using satellite remote sensing technology; GIS technology. Data comes from field surveys, use of ERTS (LANDSAT and SPOT) imagery and aerial photography as well as sectoral and regional studies.

Data consists of: Resource inventory and evaluation work; growth centres and rural/urban linkages; Mapping - illustrative planimetric maps for selected areas; Rangeland assessment; deforestation studies; soil surveys; land resource inventories and ground-water assessments.

Methodologies, Quality Control, Harmonization
An information paper outlines the rationale, objective, methodologies and procedures of Environmental Information Systems development. Focuses on improving the availability of natural resources data throughout the developing world. Paper to be written will study logistical technical and administrative problems associated with establishing and supporting national centres.

Assessment and Analysis
Remote sensing activities have been expanded to include the development of collaborative programmes with other international organizations, public interest groups, NGOs, scientific bodies and the private sector.

Indicators

Modelling
Soil erosion modelling linking GIS and economic analysis.

Expert Systems/Decision-support systems

Early Warning Mechanisms

Reports/Information dissemination

An important initiative of the Africa Regional Environmental Division focuses on the need for improving the quality and access of African nations to data on the nature and extent of their natural resources.

Network Development and Support
World Bank supports development of national and regional environmental information systems as components of national environmental action plans.

Capacity-Building
Provide technical assistance to World Bank member governments in the design and implementation of remote sensing and GIS applications.

In Asian region, GIS facilities have been developed on PCs to create an easily accessible facility to learn about the use of satellite images and digital mapping. Research programmes on remote sensing applications have been developed.

Internet Access

http://www.worldbank.org
Information about the World Bank, it's activities and structure. Contains press releases and current events, and many documents relating to bank projects and activities. Links to their associated research departments. Publications catalogue with abstracts, with some full-text documents available online. Links to associated financial institutions.

Responsible Office/Person (for inquiries or follow-up):
Mr Hassan Hassan
Senior Environment Specialist
Environment Department
The World Bank
1818 H Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433, USA
Tel: +1 202 477 1234
Fax: +1 202 477 0565

Earthwatch Focal Point

Date of preparation: July 1994 for the text, March 1997 for table

ORGANIZATION: World Bank: Environment Department/Remote Sensing