Land Classification: Providing an Explanation for the Decision Making Process

This paper considers the impact of technology on methods used to classify land potential. With developments in new technologies such as Expert Systems (ES) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), McKeown (1987) proposes a new method by which to explain the decision making process for land classification to an end user. Consideration is given to McKeowns' concept and the literature reviewing both traditional land classification methods and ES and GIS systems.     

Monitoring Saline Discharge Areas: Farrell Flat,a Case Study

By monitoring saline groundwater discharge areas, an indication of the extent of dryland salinisation processes occurring in an area may be determined. Processed remotely sensed data (SPOT MS and aerial photography) has been analysed within a geographic information system database to identify the dynamic relationship between changing vegetation cover and increasing salt levels on a saline groundwater discharge area. Temporal analysis of this database was conducted for a saline discharge area on a wheat/sheep property in South Australia from the period 1966 to 1990. The results provide a directional and quantitative assessment of the change in salt affected areas during the study period. Information of this type benefits land managers at the regional scale by quantifying salinisation trends.