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Landsat Science Teams

Landsat Science Teams consist of USGS and NASA scientists and engineers, external scientists, engineers, and application specialists, representing industry and university research initiatives. The Science Teams are tasked with providing scientific and technical evaluations to the USGS and NASA to help ensure the continued success of the Landsat program.

Landsat Science Team members are tasked to provide scientific and technical evaluations on topics that are deemed important across the Landsat user community, for example: 

Data Characterization

  • Assessment of radiometric and geometric characteristics and performance of new remote sensing instruments
  • Cross-comparisons of Landsat and other remote sensing instruments
  • Methods and techniques for the merging and integration of Landsat data with measurements collected by other land imaging satellite instruments

Landsat Science Data Products

  • Requirements, strategies, algorithms and approaches for developing Landsat Science products
  • Defining new innovative Landsat standard and derived products

Data Applications

  • Advanced methods or strategies for multi-decadal and large-area land change assessments
  • New applications and research capabilities resulting from the Landsat free data policy
  • Value of Landsat for addressing societal issues

 

In Memoriam: John Dwyer

In Memoriam: John Dwyer

In Memoriam: Tom Loveland

In Memoriam: Tom Loveland

 

USGS and NASA Landsat Project Scientists co-chair each team. 

2018-2023 Science Team

The primary task of the 2018-2023 Landsat Science Team is to provide scientific and technical evaluations to the USGS and NASA on issues critical to the success of the Landsat program, and to ensure that data from future missions (such as Landsat 9 and beyond) are successfully integrated into the overall Landsat record.

2012-2017 Science Team

As recognized national and international leaders in land remote sensing, 2012-2017 Landsat Science Team members were tasked with evaluating issues of importance to all Landsat users. They played a key role in ensuring that data from future missions are successfully integrated with already archived remotely sensed data for the purpose of observing national and global environmental systems.

2006-2011 Science Team

The 2006-2011 Landsat Science Team were tasked with recommending strategies for the effective use of archived data from Landsat sensors and investigated the requirements for future sensors to meet the needs of Landsat users, including the needs of policy makers at all levels of government.

1996-2001 Science Team

The 1996-2001 Landsat Science Team were tasked the responsibility to conduct basic research, develop new and innovative methods for using Landsat observations for global change studies, and to evaluate the quality of data acquired by Landsat and other land-surface imaging missions prior to the launch of Landsat 7.