Capabilities of and requirements for urban remote sensing – When science meets user needs

Is the urban remote sensing community directing its research and product development towards user needs? Today urban planners confirm that remotely sensed data and derived products are only used rudimentarily in their daily routine. In general, urban planning and management can be conceptualised as a two phase process: Phase 1 aims at understanding the nature and dynamics of urban development and the identification of problems and phase 2 develops and implements policies and interventions that seek to structure and guide cities. Urban remote sensing has mani-fold capabilities to provide data, methods and information to both phases. Thus, a critical discus-sion is needed beyond long-established remote sensing or planning communities to transform the new capabilities into practical value