Proprietary Aspects of Commercial Remote-Sensing Imagery

This remote-sensing imagery copyright issue will be addressed in two parts: First, the specific aspects of remote-sensing imagery will be assessed in terms of international protection as compared to other space activities having a literary or intellectual content, with a direct and immediate commercial impact. Second, the specific copyright provisions of several bilateral agreements will be scrutinized in a comparative approach and the merits of each of them will be assessed against those of the others. The terms pictures and signals will be used indistinc- tively in order to identify the same physical elements, i.e. the bits or information elements transmitted by the satellite towards relay stations, either in outer space or on the ground in foreign countries

Proprietary Aspects of Commercial Remote-Sensing Imagery

This remote-sensing imagery copyright issue will be addressed in two parts: First, the specific aspects of remote-sensing imagery will be assessed in terms of international protection as compared to other space activities having a literary or intellectual content, with a direct and immediate commercial impact. Second, the specific copyright provisions of several bilateral agreements will be scrutinized in a comparative approach and the merits of each of them will be assessed against those of the others. The terms pictures and signals will be used indistinc- tively in order to identify the same physical elements, i.e. the bits or information elements transmitted by the satellite towards relay stations, either in outer space or on the ground in foreign countries

Design Drivers for a Viable Commercial Remote Sensing Space Architecture

Private sector investment into new commercial remote sensing constellations over the past five years has exceeded $1B. The capabilities of these systems—many still in development or at pre-initial operational capability (IOC) thresholds—are intended to address a combination of new or underserved global markets. Additionally, the combination of ever-increasing technical collection requirements with static programmatic resources, has now driven historically traditional space system operators to embrace hybrid architectures that leverage commercially-sourced data into their service baselines. While enticing to many new entrants, many considerations must be practically addressed to field an enduring, commercially viable space architecture solution. Foremost it must deliver the expected type of data at sufficient quality that can be directly utilized by established users already sourcing other (typically exquisite) collections. Delivery of this capability must also necessarily be resilient, with business continuity secured through a mixture of customers that transcends venture-backed investments to a posture of sustained profitably. In 2017, Maxar (then operating as DigitalGlobe) decided to proceed with the self-financed development of a new$600M Earth observation constellation comprised of six high-resolution satellites that are only 30% of the weight of the prior generation, but leverage technological advances for affordability and performance. Before doing so, however, a rigorous system engineering and business analysis study was undertaken to thoroughly understand customer key performance parameters (KPP) and design drivers to be addressed to ensure a delivered combination of product-market fit, flexibility/adaptability to evolving requirements, and overall capital efficiency. In this paper, we describe this effort to develop our design baseline and the corresponding operational commercial remote sensing constellation that will achieve its new IOC in 2021 to directly support both dedicated commercial and hybrid mission operator architectures

Remote sensing and the Mississippi high accuracy reference network

Since 1986, NASA's Commercial Remote Sensing Program (CRSP) at Stennis Space Center has supported commercial remote sensing partnerships with industry. CRSP's mission is to maximize U.S. market exploitation of remote sensing and related space-based technologies and to develop advanced technical solutions for spatial information requirements. Observation, geolocation, and communications technologies are converging and their integration is critical to realize the economic potential for spatial informational needs. Global positioning system (GPS) technology enables a virtual revolution in geopositionally accurate remote sensing of the earth. A majority of states are creating GPS-based reference networks, or high accuracy reference networks (HARN). A HARN can be defined for a variety of local applications and tied to aerial or satellite observations to provide an important contribution to geographic information systems (GIS). This paper details CRSP's experience in the design and implementation of a HARN in Mississippi and the design and support of future applications of integrated earth observations, geolocation, and communications technology

Commercial potential of remote sensing data from the Earth observing system

The purpose was to assess the market potential of remote sensing value-added products from the Earth Observing System (EOS) platform. Sensors on the EOS platform were evaluated to determine which qualities and capabilities could be useful to the commercial user. The approach was to investigate past and future satellite data distribution programs. A questionnaire was developed for use in a telephone survey. Based on the results of the survey of companies that add value to remotely sensed data, conversations with the principal investigators in charge of each EOS sensor, a study of past commercial satellite data ventures, and reading from the commercial remote sensing industry literature, three recommendations were developed: develop a strategic plan for commercialization of EOS data, define a procedure for commercial users within the EOS data stream, and develop an Earth Observations Commercial Applications Program-like demonstration program within NASA using EOS simulated data

No more secrets?: Policy implications of commercial remote sensing satellites

This paper was originally written for the conference on "No More Secrets? Policy Implications of Commercial Remote Sensing Satellites," held at the Carnegie Endowment on May 26, 1999.</p

Eye in the Sky: Predicted Future Issues of the Proliferation of Commercial Remote Sensing

The proliferation of commercial remote sensing satellites has increased the availability of satellite images. These images are predicted to increase in spatial and temporal resolution (clarity and frequency) until satellite imagery becomes near real-time. This new technology will have positive and negative effects on society due to the dual nature of satellite imagery. This paper highlights some of the potential consequences of ubiquitous satellite imagery. Furthermore, it examines current regulations and illustrates how these regulations will be unsuitable in the future. Finally, it examines UN regulations surrounding satellite imagery and if international treaties could be used to regulate this technology

Commercial Remote Sensing Satellites and the Regulation of Violence in Areas of Limited Statehood

The number and sophistication of commercial remote sensing satellites has grown steadily since 2000 when the first high resolution satellite went into service. The nature and trajectory of the growth in satellite technology is outlined in this paper. The discussion is placed in the context of an international relations theory about statehood. An area of limited statehood framework is outlined, especially as it relates to the maladroit use of force by limited states unable or unwilling to discipline security personnel or otherwise control the use of force. Of course, another possibility is that the use of excessive and indiscriminant violence is deliberate. We consider the “regulation of violence” to be deliberate violence by nonstate actors serving as “functional equivalents” for state oversight functions not found in limited statehood. NGOs and other international institutions, comprising what Keck and Sikkink call a Transnational Activist Network (TAN), use remote sensing satellites to gather data about uses of force by weak-state security apparatuses. Put more formally, we investigate the use of commercial, high-resolution remote sensing data by TANs as they attempt to regulate excessive and indiscriminate violence used by the security apparatuses of states that can be thought of as limited in key dimensions