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.

Active remote sensing is the principal tool used to study and to predict short- and long-term changes in the environment of Earth - the atmosphere, the oceans and the land surfaces - as well as the near space environment of Earth. All of these measurements are essential to understanding terrestrial weather, climate change, space weather hazards, and threats from asteroids. Active remote sensing measurements are of inestimable benefit to society, as we pursue the development of a technological civilization that is economically viable, and seek to maintain the quality of our life. A Strategy for Active Remote Sensing Amid Increased Demand for Spectrum describes the threats, both current and future, to the effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum required for active remote sensing. This report offers specific recommendations for protecting and making effective use of the spectrum required for active remote sensing.

This book advances the scientific understanding and application of space-based technologies to address a variety of areas related to sustainable development; including environmental systems analysis, environmental management, clean processes, green chemistry, and green engineering. Geo-spatial techniques have gained considerable interest in recent decades among the earth and environmental science communities for solving and understanding various complex problems and approaches towards sustainable technologies. The book encompasses several scopes of interests on sustainable technologies in areas such as water resources, forestry, remote sensing, meteorology, atmospheric and oceanic modeling, environmental engineering and management, civil engineering, air and environmental pollution, water quality problems, etc. The book will appeal to people with an interest in geo-spatial techniques, sustainable development and other diverse backgrounds within earth and environmental sciences field.

Over the past decade renewed interest in practical applications of Earth observations from space has coincided with and been fueled by significant improvements in the availability of remote sensing data and in their spectral and spatial resolution. In addition, advances in complementary spatial data technologies such as geographic information systems and the Global Positioning System have permitted more varied uses of the data. During the same period, the institutions that produce remote sensing data have also become more diversified. In the United States, satellite remote sensing was until recently dominated largely by federal agencies and their private sector contractors. However, private firms are increasingly playing a more prominent role, even a leadership role, in providing satellite remote sensing data, through either public-private partnerships or the establishment of commercial entities that serve both government and private sector Earth observation needs. In addition, a large number of private sector value-adding firms have been established to work with end users of the data. These changes, some technological, some institutional, and some financial, have implications for new and continuing uses of remote sensing data. To gather data for exploring the importance of these changes and their significance for a variety of issues related to the use of remote sensing data, the Space Studies Board initiated a series of three workshops. The first, "Moving Remote Sensing from Research to Applications: Case Studies of the Knowledge Transfer Process," was held in May 2000. This report draws on data and information obtained in the workshop planning meeting with agency sponsors, information presented by workshop speakers and in splinter group discussions, and the expertise and viewpoints of the authoring Steering Committee on Space Applications and Commercialization. The recommendations are the consensus of the steering committee and not necessarily of the workshop participants.