The following topics were discussed: (1) data availability and distribution, (2) complete processing systems, (3) subsystems, (4) applications, (5) research for future technology, and (6) education, training opportunities, and materials. Evidence was given that remote sensing technology is being increasingly utilized. Therefore, it was concluded that a second stage of remote sensing technology should be developed

Landgrebe, D. A.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

V. Information Systems and Services
User Services
David Landgrebe
The other sessions in this symposium were associated
with the user community through a so-called user
discipline (e.g., agriculture, geology, land use). The
information systems and services session and the user
services session were also related to the user community
but in a different fashion; its association was more
directly with the technology itself.
Prepared papers were presented in both sessions; an
"interactive session," in which members of the audience
could interact directly with a panel of experts, was held
in the user services session. Papers presented can be
categorized topically as follows.
1. Data availability and distribution
2. Descriptions of complete processing systems
3. Developments regarding subsystems
4. Applications related to the technology
5. Research for future technology
6. Education and training opportunities and materials
Modern remote-sensing technology has been under
intensive development by NASA for about the last
decade. Now, two important questions, which were
amplified during this symposium, must be considered. Is
there really a technology ready for the user? If so, to
what extent has this technology already begun to
permeate the user community?
Of the papers presented, fully one-third were
descriptions of complete, ready to use data processing
systems that are offered by various organizations.
Figures V-l and V-2 are examples of those discussed.
These and similar systems provide concrete evidence that
hardware specially designed for remote-sensing
technology and for the user community is now available
off the shelf, which was not true at previous symposia.
These systems represent recognition by private
enterprise of the existence of a user community and a
market and of the actual and potential use of such
technology. This trend is a major indicator of the answer
to the question about readiness of remote-sensing
technology.
A second observation can be noted from the
applications papers presented during this session. For
example, a speaker (1-6, vol. I-B) from the U.S. Forest
Service described a straightforward and routine
application of remote-sensing technology using Landsat
data as a part of the agency's daily efforts. There have
been many spectacular events in this field in the past;
however, there are now evidences that remote-sensing
techniques are being used in many more routine kinds of
applications. These nonspectacular applications are
important because they indicate a maturing of the
technology.
Further conclusions about remote-sensing technology
and its relationship to the user community may be
drawn from information about data availability and
from descriptions of data uses. There were two
presentations on data availability (1-21, vol. I-B, and U-2,
vol. II). Some statistics regarding requests to the Earth
Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center
were given that lead to some perceptions about trends in
data use.
The number of requests received at the EROS Data
Center for remote-sensing data is shown in table V-I by
fiscal year (FY). Notice the very large increase in
requests for Landsat imagery, 94 percent, from fiscal
year 1973 to 1974, and another increase in fiscal year
1975.
In his remarks during the opening session of the
symposium, William Stoney emphasized the very rapid
adaptation of the user community to digital data. The
expanded use of Landsat computer-compatible tape
(CCT) units shown in table V-I clearly illustrates this
fact.
aLaboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing,
West Lafayette, Indiana.
29
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19760010530 2020-03-22T16:13:39+00:00Z
Outputs Inputs
Film Raw
photograph
Recorded
image
Additional
processing"
Digital
version of
output
image
Results
1
Microdensitometer
I
Recorder | Scanner
I
Scanned
image
/
Processed
image
Photograph of
screen
Input
image
Minicomputer
Processing of images
User
terminal
Figure V-l.— Input/output resources and capabilities of the interactive digital image manipulation system.
30
ORIGINAL PAC
Figure V-2.- The PDF 1145 minicomputer used in the screwworm eradication data system and elsewhere.
Because Landsat data are relatively new, one might
suspect that many of the data requests represent
curiosity rather than actual use. Although curiosity is
undoubtedly a factor, the table also shows a significant
increase in requests for aircraft data as well. Aircraft
data are not new; this data source has existed for many
years.
A customer profile for the EROS Data Center is
shown in table V-II. Notice that the largest customer,
both in number of requests and in money spent, was
private industry. Industry accounts for at least one-third
of the total data requested. It seems logical that private
industry should occupy this position. With regard to a
new technology, industry is the most mobile of the
various sectors; it has more local control over its
resources and therefore can move more rapidly when a
new and viable technology becomes available. It usually
takes longer for the governmental sector to secure the
necessary approvals and appropriations to take
advantage of such technology.
During the period April 1974 to March 1975, the
same as that covered in table V-II, the EROS Data
Center received orders for 413 000 frames of all types of
data, including 167 000 frames of Landsat imagery.
These figures certainly indicate more than a casual
interest in this type of data by the user community.
The EROS Data Center has also classified the major
uses of its products into the following general areas.
1. Mineral and fossil fuel exploration and related
geologic base mapping
2. Applications research
3. Cartographic and related mapping applications
4. Water resources management and inventory
5. Timber and forest product inventories and land use
mapping
6. General land use stratification
7. Agricultural land use stratification
8. Wildland inventory and monitoring
9. Miscellaneous (uncategorized)
31
TABLE V-I.- EROS DATA CENTER DATA DEMAND
(a) Quantity
Data type
Landsat imagery
Landsat CCT's
Skylab and Apollo data
Aircraft data
Totals
FY 1973
no. of
frames
81 071
10
-
83942
165 023
FY 1974
No. of frames
157 178
228
17201
109 490
284 097
Increase,
percent
94
2200
--
30
72
FY 1975
No. of frames
185000
820
33000
193000
411 820
Increase,
percent
18
260
92
76
45
(b) Cost
Data type
Landsat imagery
Landsat CCT's
Skylab and Apollo data
Aircraft data
Totals
FY 1973
cost
$ 228 042
1 600
114676
$374318
FY 1974
Cost
$528514
36480
34421
237 332
$ 836 747
Increase,
percent
132
2200
64
124
FY 1975
Cost
$ 792 000
164000
124000
520 000
$ 1 600 000
Increase,
percent
50
349
250
119
91
It is important to emphasize the potential impact of
remote-sensing technology in the preceding areas on
major contemporary problems, such as the availability of
energy sources and of food supplies and the utilization
of land resources.
During the last several years, remote-sensing
technology has been somewhat troubled by its own
success. Demand for data rose more rapidly than
anticipated; as a result, 'delays in obtaining data became
excessive. This problem is being corrected, at least for
data in image form, and it seems reasonable to assume
that faster availability of digital magnetic tape data will
also result soon. The importance of solving this problem
of delay is very great.
A third perspective from which one can sense this
movement to technology utilization should be noted. If
a technology is to be broadly used, educational and
training opportunities must be available. Through this
symposium, much information about remote-sensing
training programs and training materials has been
assembled. One author (U-3, vol. II) found 10 books and
5 scientific journals devoted exclusively to remote
sensing. He further noted at least 4 regularly scheduled
symposia on the subject and 11 regularly occurring short
courses presented by different organizations, including
one now offering a 1-week short course each month.
The opportunities and materials offered for training
in remote sensing must be regarded as unusual because
of the diversity of educational materials available. They
range from the usual books, ad hoc short courses, and
the like to prepackaged minicourses, television and
audio-tutorial tapes, and even include a computer
remote terminal system. One of the most unusual
programs was produced by the University of Nebraska
and consists of materials for use in secondary schools.
High school administrators have shown a great deal of
interest, and a description of the program also
stimulated much interest at the symposium session.
32
TABLE V-II.- EROS DATA CENTER
CUSTOMER PROFILES"
User By item,
percentage
By dollar
value,
percentage
All data
Private industry
Foreign
Federal Government
Academic
Individuals
State and local government
Unknown
34
12
27
14
7
1
5
30
12
24
16
11
1
6
Landsat data only
Private industry
Foreign
Federal Government
Academic
Individuals
State and local government
Unknown
24
24
15
14
10
1
12
24
20
15
15
13
1
12
*April 1974 to March 1975.
In summary, during the information systems and
services and user services sessions, and during the other
sessions as well, ample and convincing evidence was
given that remote-sensing technology has moved and is
moving into the user community. Therefore, it seems
impor tant , while continuing to encourage this
movement, to begin in earnest the development of a
second stage of remote-sensing technology. We are only
at the beginning; the potential for further development
is great. If the benefits beginning to accrue from past
technology development are true indicators, the
importance of bringing this potential to reality over the
years to come is indeed great.
33


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