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How do organizations and government agencies use digital elevation models to inform policy decisions?

Jame McGowan

Digital elevation models (DEMs) are becoming an increasingly valuable tool for organizations and government agencies to inform policy decisions. DEMs are essentially three-dimensional representations of the earth's surface, digitized from various sources such as satellite imagery, airborne laser surveying, and ground-based sensors. They provide accurate and detailed information on topography, terrain, and land use, which can be used to inform a wide range of policy decisions.

One of the main ways organizations and government agencies use DEMs is to inform land use planning and management decisions. DEMs can provide information on the suitability of land for different uses, such as agriculture, forestry, mining, or urban development. They can also identify areas that are vulnerable to natural hazards, such as floods, landslides, or earthquakes, and help develop appropriate land use policies and regulations.

DEMs are also important tools for environmental management and conservation. They can provide information on the location and extent of ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands, as well as the distribution and abundance of wildlife species. This information can be used to identify areas of high ecological value that need protection, and to develop conservation plans and management strategies.

In addition, DEMs are increasingly being used in disaster risk reduction and emergency response planning. By providing detailed information on the topography and terrain of a particular area, DEMs can help identify areas that are at risk of floods, landslides, or other natural hazards, and develop appropriate disaster risk reduction plans. They can also be used to create detailed maps of affected areas following a disaster, which can help emergency responders devise the most effective response strategies.

Finally, DEMs are an important tool for infrastructure planning and development. They can provide information on the best routes for roads, railways, and pipelines, as well as the suitability of different locations for the construction of buildings or other infrastructure. They can also be used to identify areas that are likely to experience environmental impacts from infrastructure development, and help develop appropriate mitigation measures.

In conclusion, digital elevation models are a valuable tool for organizations and government agencies to inform a wide range of policy decisions. They provide accurate and detailed information on topography, terrain, and land use, which can be used to inform land use planning and management decisions, environmental management and conservation efforts, disaster risk reduction and emergency response planning, and infrastructure planning and development. As such, DEMs are likely to become an increasingly important tool in policy decision-making in the years to come.