Wetlands, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Modelling

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and spatial modelling play a vital role in the research and management of wetlands. This chapter examines the integration of GIS and spatial modelling in wetland studies, emphasising its applications in wetland mapping and classification, hydrological modelling, habitat assessment, biodiversity conservation and restoration, and socio-economic analysis. By utilising software such as ArcGIS and QGIS, researchers can analyse complex datasets, detect environmental changes, and assess the impacts of climate change on these valuable ecosystems. Challenges such as data availability and the requirement of high-resolution data are discussed, along with emerging technologies like drones for enhanced monitoring capabilities.