Viewing the Earth examines the role played by interest groups in shaping the process of technological change, offering valuable insights into how technologies evolve. It traces the history of Landsat from its origins through the launch and use of the first few satellites, showing how a variety of forces shape the form and the eventual reception of any new technology. The Landsat earth resources satellite system was a project of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration that was created to collect data about earth resources from space. The first satellite was launched in 1972 with great fanfare and high expectations. The data proved useful for everything from finding oil to predicting harvests, yet today the successful commercialization of the program is still uncertain. Why? To answer this question, Pamela E. Mack focuses on the negotiating process that went on among different parts of the space agency, other interested government agencies, and various organizations that were potential users of the data. This formal and informal negotiating process, she points out, involved not only choices between alternative technologies and the satellite but also conflicting definitions of what the satellite would do. The story is full of fascinating detail, from the concerns of the intelligence community over civilian satellites looking at the earth to the politics of agricultural survey. Pamela E. Mack is Associate Professor in the History Department at Clemson University.

This book shows how artificial intelligence, including neural networks and deep learning, can be applied to the processing of satellite data for Earth observation. The authors explain how to develop a set of libraries for the implementation of artificial intelligence that encompass different aspects of research.

"Earth resources are the precious assets that provide living space for human beings. In the last few decades, the pressure on earth resources has increased due to anthropogenic activities and rapid industrialization. The sustainable management of earth resources requires reliable, accurate, and timely information at different observational scales. Geo-information technology is an efficient tool for acquiring information required for environmental protection, earth resources monitoring, and addressing the issues associated with sustainable development and management. It offers an influential and capable tool for mapping, monitoring, modeling, and management of earth resources. Many researchers have reported their findings and operational applications of direct relevance to the management of earth resources with the launch of imaging satellites in the 1970s. However, few studies have been reported to understand the core science and research basics, as there are larger issues of capacity building to use geo-information technology in sustainable development and management of earth resources. There is also a fundamental gap between the theoretical concepts and the operational use of these advanced tools. This could be resolved by providing a broad range of applications of this technology to the scientific and research community in the field of geospatial technologies and allied subjects. This book, entitled "Geo-Information Technology in Earth Resources Monitoring and Management," deals with the challenges for sustainable management and development of earth resources with a focus on India and other countries around the world. The chapters are written by prominent academicians, researchers, and experts in the field of geo-information technology and related subjects. This book is a collection of chapters providing a multi-disciplinary overview for academicians, researchers, scientists, administrators, policymakers, social scientists, and professionals involved in the various aspects of earth resources development, planning, and management. The aim of this book is to replenish the gap in the available literature on the subject by bringing together the concepts, theories, and experiences of specialists and professionals in this field"--

This report addresses the transition of research satellites, instruments, and calculations into operational service for accurately observing and predicting the Earth's environment. These transitions, which take place in large part between NASA and NOAA, are important for maintaining the health, safety, and prosperity of the nation, and for achieving the vision of an Earth Information System in which quantitative information about the complete Earth system is readily available to myriad users. Many transitions have been ad hoc, sometimes taking several years or even decades to occur, and others have encountered roadblocksâ€"lack of long-range planning, resources, institutional or cultural differences, for instanceâ€"and never reached fruition. Satellite Observations of Earth's Environment recommends new structures and methods that will allow seamless transitions from research to practice.

The ability to anticipate the impacts of global environmental changes on natural resources is fundamental to designing appropriate and optimised adaptation and mitigation strategies. However, this requires the scientific community to have access to reliable, large-scale information on spatio-temporal changes in the distribution of abiotic conditions and on the distribution, structure, composition, and functioning of ecosystems. Satellite remote sensing can provide access to some of this fundamental data by offering repeatable, standardised, and verifiable information that is directly relevant to the monitoring and management of our natural capital. This book demonstrates how ecological knowledge and satellite-based information can be effectively combined to address a wide array of current natural resource management needs. By focusing on concrete applied examples in both the marine and terrestrial realms, it will help pave the way for developing enhanced levels of collaboration between the ecological and remote sensing communities, as well as shaping their future research directions. Satellite Remote Sensing and the Management of Natural Resources is primarily aimed at ecologists and remote sensing specialists, as well as policy makers and practitioners in the fields of conservation biology, biodiversity monitoring, and natural resource management.

Introduction to Satellite Remote Sensing: Atmosphere, Ocean and Land Applications is the first reference book to cover ocean applications, atmospheric applications, and land applications of remote sensing. Applications of remote sensing data are finding increasing application in fields as diverse as wildlife ecology and coastal recreation management. The technology engages electromagnetic sensors to measure and monitor changes in the earth's surface and atmosphere. The book opens with an introduction to the history of remote sensing, starting from when the phrase was first coined. It goes on to discuss the basic concepts of the various systems, including atmospheric and ocean, then closes with a detailed section on land applications. Due to the cross disciplinary nature of the authors' experience and the content covered, this is a must have reference book for all practitioners and students requiring an introduction to the field of remote sensing. - Provides study questions at the end of each chapter to aid learning - Covers all satellite remote sensing technologies, allowing readers to use the text as instructional material - Includes the most recent technologies and their applications, allowing the reader to stay up-to-date - Delves into laser sensing (LIDAR) and commercial satellites (DigitalGlobe) - Presents examples of specific satellite missions, including those in which new technology has been introduced