The Future Of Remote Sensing From Space Civilian Satellite Systems And Applications

Examines issues related to the development and operation of publicly funded U.S. and foreign civilian remote sensing systems. Explores the military and intelligence use of data gathered by civilian satellites. Examines the outlook for privately funded and operated remote sensing systems. Numerous charts, graphs, tables and photos.

Since the first civilian remote sensing satellite was launched in 1960, the United States has come increasingly to rely on space-based remote sensing to serve a wide variety of needs for data about the atmosphere, land, and oceans (table 1-1). Other nations have followed the U.S. lead. The vantage point of space offers a broadscale view of Earth, with repetitive coverage unaffected by political boundaries Recent advances in sensors, telecommunications, and computers have made possible the development and operation of advanced satellite systems (figure 1-1) that deliver vital information about our planet to Earth-bound users. Many Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD), use remotely sensed data to carry out their legislatively mandated programs to protect and assist U.S. citizens and to reserve and manage U.S. resources. For routine observation of weather and climate, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates two environmental satellite systems. DoD also operates a system of environmental satellites' The scientific satellites and instruments of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) probe Earth's environment for scientific research. Future NASA scientific satellites will include NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS), a series of sophisticated, low-orbit satellites to gather global environmental data and assist in assessing global environmental change.

This new edition introduces and examines the space technologies that benefit our everyday lives. Each chapter now includes exercises and problems, and the content covers new satellites and emerging technologies. It explores the ever-improving quality of satellite systems and services, and also investigates ways to bring about higher resolution satellite imagery and lower satellite costs. The focus is on man-made satellites, which are becoming smaller, smarter, cheaper, and easier to launch, having a longer life span, and are less susceptible to interference. Furthermore, the book considers advances in several key technologies that affect the satellite industry. Includes extensive study questions and exercises after each chapter. Explains present commercial space technology and its future outlook. Explores the many applications of space technologies and their impact on our lives, including real world examples. Presents a future outlook on robotics, communications and navigation, and human health and nanotechnology. Provides a clear understanding of space, space technologies, space applications, space security, space regulations, a space roadmap, and their impact on the lives of humans now and for generations to come.

The technical, scientific, policy, and institutional environment for conducting Earth science research has been changing rapidly over the past few decades. Changes in the technical environment are due both to the advent of new types and sources of remote sensing data, which have higher spatial and spectral resolution, and to the development of vastly expanded capabilities in data access, visualization, spatial data integration, and data management. The scientific environment is changing because of the strong emphasis on global change research, both nationally and internationally, and the evolving data requirements for that research. And the policy and institutional environment for the production of Earth observation data is changing with the diversification of both remote sensing data and the institutions that produce the data. In this report, the Space Studies Board's Steering Committee on Space Applications and Commercialization explores the implications of this changing environment, examining the opportunities and challenges it presents.

This textbook is one of the first to explain the fundamentals and applications of remote sensing at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Topics include definitions and a brief history of payloads and platforms, data acquisition and specifications, image processing techniques, data integration and spatial modeling, and a range of applications covering terrestrial, atmospheric, oceanographic and planetary disciplines. The policy and law issues of remote sensing and the future trends on the horizon are also covered. Remote sensing is an exciting, dynamic technology that is transforming the Earth sciences – terrestrial, atmospheric, and marine – as well as the practices of agriculture, disaster response, engineering, natural resources, providing evidence in legal cases and documented humanitarian crises, and many other fields. Increasingly, understanding of these techniques will be central to a number of disciplines, particularly as the technology advances.