Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is implementing the President's U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy (CRSSP) in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), and other Federal civil agencies.
NOAA leads the effort to document civil long-term Earth observation requirements that may drive the development of future commercial remote sensing systems. NGA chairs a senior management oversight committee and leads the effort to leverage Federal investments in commercial data and infrastructure, procurements and contracts. The USGS leads the near-term remote sensing data requirements process on behalf of the Federal government. (See Figure 1)
Objectives of CRSSP include:
- Collect the near-term land remote sensing data requirements of U.S. Federal civil agencies and provide query and report capabilities to help agencies leverage resources in areas of common interest
- Provide documented evidence for potential remote sensing funding initiatives
- Satisfy user requirements with existing data sources where possible
- Provide the commercial satellite and aerial industry with a snapshot of civil agency needs, allowing industry an opportunity to respond with accurate and specific data and services
Once a data requirement is entered, searches are performed to find existing imagery to meet the requirement; customers many also be connected to potential partners and contract vehicles to help them acquire a solution to their remote sensing needs. (See Figure 2)
All Federal agencies are encouraged to be involved.
The CRSSP Imagery-Derived Requirements (CIDR) Entry Tool allows the entry of imagery requirements, review existing requirements, or explore potential data partnerships.
The Commercial Data Purchases (CDP) Imagery collection is archived at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center and is available for searches and downloads.
The USGS Remote Sensing Technologies Project works extensively to understand the capabilities and limitations of the international commercial satellite data, provides technical expertise and supports the calibration and characterization research of emerging digital imaging technologies.
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