GAIA (Geographic Access Image and Analysis) Software for the color-enabled Apple Macintosh computer can now display, manipulate, and analyze satellite imagery, scanned aerial photos, airborne video and any PICT or TIFF image. GAIA (pronounced GUY-uh and named for the Greek goddess of the earth) was developed by ornithologist Richard Podolsky and forester Philip Conkling at the Island Institute specifically with conservation groups, universities, towns and schools in mind. GAIA’s capabilities are focused on displaying any earth imagery including full SPOT or LANDSAT images and allowing users to combine spectral classes into meaningful covertypes and analyze a given area for acreage. GAIA also has full rastor/vector integration and can overlay vector maps (from MapGraphix and Microstation) onto the raster imagery to superimpose roads, geopolitical borders, hydrography, etc. When vectors are co-registered GAIA supports all Global Positioning Systems (GPS) by displaying UTM coordinates for any pixel in an image.

According to Dr. Richard Podolsky, "GAIA brings remote sensing not just to the desktop, but into the realm of conservationists, local decisionmakers, universities, and schools. Most GAIA users have only dreamt about being able to access remotely sensed data." In addition to ecologists and foresters, dozens of school children are currently using GAIA. "People need to analyze the earth's surface for important tasks such as protecting wetlands and other significant lands. With GAIA it is now possible to take advantage of the wealth of information in digital earth imagery from a Macintosh without having to resort to expensive, user-hostile software," says Podolsky.

GAIA brings satellite imagery not only to the desktop, but also into the realm of resource managers such as foresters and agronomists, decision makers, universities, and schools. Adhering to the Macintosh graphical user interface has produced a program that is both powerful and easy to learn and use. In addition to doctoral-level ecologists and foresters, dozens of elementary school children are currently using GAIA. People who need to analyze the earth's surface can now access remotely-sensed data without resorting to expensive, user-hostile hardware and software.

Potential users of GAIA include, environmental consultants, academic researchers, agricultural engineers, mining specialists, and teachers.