Queensland Coastal Resources Mapping Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies

The Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage (QDEH) commissioned Mapping and Monitoring Technology (MMT) to prepare an environmental audit of the Whitsunday Region as a component of the Queensland Government's Coastal Protection Strategy. The audit consists of two key activities, being a resource mapping exercise using recent Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery coupled with aerial photography and expert ground knowledge, as well as a translation of classified land cover information to an ARC/INFO based Coastal Geographic Information System. The audit will provide input to the State and Regional Coastal Management Planning phases of the Coastal Protection Strategy. It will act as a source of information on which resource managers, planners and project managers can make more informed decisions. The poster will demonstrate the usefulness of combining remote sensing and GIS technologies thus simplifying the task of sourcing environmental information critical to the management and planning of resources in the coastal zone.