How to use the technology

There are several methods land trusts can use to determine how they will use remote monitoring technology for stewardship. In some cases, they need to determine the best images for their properties. In other cases, they must determine the properties that are the best match for their chosen monitoring method. Many organizations have found that they refine their method year-to-year as the technology and access to certain kinds of imagery change.

For ease of use, in this toolkit, we start with selecting an image source, but you may find it makes better sense to start with selecting a property.

No matter where you start, it is important to keep multiple considerations in mind when making choices:

• spatial resolution,

• spectral resolution,

• when the image is taken,

• the quality of the image,

• the types of ecosystems within a property, and

• the techniques for image storage and reporting that impact storage capacity.

At each decision-making stage, land trusts need to consider easement terms, expressed intent of landowners and the organization’s relationship with the landowners.