Improved integration of remote sensing and geographic information systems: a background to NCGIA initiative 12

The national center for geographic information and analysis (NCGIA) was awarded by the national science foundation (NSF) to a consortium of universities in August of 1988. The three universities forming the NCGIA are the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo, and the University of Maine at Orono. NCGIA conducts activities in three areas: research, education, and outreach. The research has primarily centered around the conduct of initiatives. This paper presents the background to the initiative 12 which focuses upon the integration of remote sensing and GIS.