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At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change and produce land change data products used by researchers, resource managers, and policy makers across the nation and around the world. EROS is home to Landsat satellite operations and an authoritative source for trusted Earth observation data and science.
 

Teachers and parents can always find something to intrigue their students in the EROS library of educational resources!

Online Educational Activities

Media
Landsat image pair showing change after dam installation
Landsat imagery showing change to a river after the installation of a dam.

Remote Sensing Classroom: Access fun and engaging educational lessons by looking at satellite imagery and performing the same analysis as the scientists at the EROS Center.

Landsat Change Pair game: View satellite imagery of change side-by-side and see if you can guess what’s different!

Earthshots: A world map filled with fascinating stories of change over time, from shrinking glaciers and burning forests to nuclear disasters and recovery.

Media
Screenshot of Powell 150 story map
USGS story map - "150th Anniversary: J.W. Powell's Perilous River Expedition."

Learn more about your home state:  Download a satellite image, put together an online puzzle, or read a USGS Fact Sheet that contains information about the benefits of Landsat to your state!

Test Your Memory: The classic memory game with a remote sensing twist: You’ll match images captured by Landsat satellites.

JW Powell's 1869 Journey: Learn more about the historic Colorado River journey of John Wesley Powell, the second director of the USGS with our interactive webpage.

Don't miss these exciting materials produced by the EROS Center: 

Earth As Art: View through 6 collections of striking satellite images. 

Image of the Week: Compilation of images showing changes of Earth's land surfaces. 

Eyes on Earth Podcast: Listen to conversations about Landsat topics. 

 

Visit the USGS EROS Center 

Individuals, families, classrooms, and other organizations are all welcome to visit EROS. A free one-hour walking tour brings remote sensing science to life with satellite models, large displays, and knowledgeable staff.  The USGS EROS Visit Us webpage provides details about touring the Center. 
 

The Don Lee Kulow Memorial Library

The Don Lee Kulow Memorial Library at the EROS Center provides research and technical support to EROS scientists, engineers, and professional staff by facilitating access to current and historical information in the fields of photogrammetry, remote sensing, and GIS; earth sciences; and information technology, software, and systems engineering. EROS employees have access to print and audiovisual collections housed within the EROS library, reference and research literature delivered over the Web through a host of electronic databases, and materials in libraries worldwide accessed through interlibrary loan services.

The library collection comprises more than 6,500 reference works, monographs, professional papers, reports, conference proceedings, atlases, and audiovisual resources; thousands of electronic journals; online reference works; and online research and reference databases that are funded by the USGS, the Department of the Interior, the EROS Library, and the South Dakota State Library. The library's catalog is available online via WorldCat Discovery.

We circulate portions of our collection on a Library-to-Library basis only. Consult your local Librarian.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Don Lee Kulow Memorial Library
U.S. Geological Survey
EROS
47914 252nd Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57198-0001
Fax: 605-594-6589
OCLC Symbol: GIE 
Business Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST

Careers within the U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) EROS Center is government-owned/directed and contractor-operated. The work of EROS is carried out through a number of mission-support contracts with industry. The largest contract, the Technical Support Services Contract, is held by KBR. Its purpose is to provide the USGS with support in the areas of science, engineering, and technical operations. Other USGS contracts provide support in the areas of satellite mission operations, facility operations and maintenance, custodial services, and physical security.

EROS also partners with educational institutions by offering internships and research opportunities, and by supporting the U.S. Geological Survey's student jobs program and the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program for post-graduate students.

Learn more about student jobs here

Learn more about the Mendenhall program here

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