The temporal and spatial consistency of remotely sensed data

can provide planning agencies with an opportunity to

study past circumstances,

build models to predict future changes, and

recalibrate models based on actual changes as the data becomes available. 

 

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In this article, authors John Jensen and David Cowen set out to recommend requirements for extracting urban/suburban infrastructure and socio-economic information from remote sensor data.  They intend to help the end user to choose an effective combination of spatial resolution (amount of area on earth captured) and temporal resolution (how often the same area is imaged) for the project at hand.

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Spatial resolution considerations involve the ability to identify pertinent information in the imagery. A study of fish habitat in the Atlantic Ocean will not need the same level of image detail as a study of sidewalks in Washington D.C. 

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Temporal resolutions considerations include the development cycle of urban/suburban phenomena, the cycle of remote sensor data collection, and the frequency of demand for the information.

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Below is a chart of recommendations, compiled by John R. Jensen and David C. Cowen, for consistent use of satellite data for urban/suburban attributes.