Our data, analysis tools, and analytical methods are used to support satellite architecture studies, determine science mission requirements, inform international collaborations, and support investment decisions such as commercial data purchases.
You can explore examples of the work we do and what we've achieved.
Landsat Next Requirements
Challenge: Over the past 50 years, the Landsat user community has grown exponentially. Understanding community user needs is crucial to informing the design of future Landsat missions. We were tasked to identify user needs to move beyond 'heritage' capabilities of the existing Landsat system to address critical emerging applications.
What we did: We initiated a community-wide user needs collection process, build an analytical tool and supported the Landsat Next Architecture Study Team. We delivered the most comprehensive and data-driven user needs study since the beginning of the Landsat Program.
Results: We identified specific enhancements that are a part of Landsat Next. NASA and USGS are evaluating architecture options based on our user needs and analysis in Landsat Next pre-formulation.
Learn more about the Landsat Next Mission.
United States Group on Earth Observations Reports
2023 Earth Observations Assessment Report: Agriculture & Forestry
Challenge: Provide high level findings and recommendations from the 2023 National Earth Observation Assessment (EOA) for the Agriculture & Forestry Societal Benefit Area (SBA), conducted by the U.S. Group on Earth Observations, an interagency coordination mechanism for Departments and Federal Agencies' civil Earth observations activities.
What we did: Leveraged capacities in collecting and modeling Earth observation data to support a National assessment focusing on the agriculture and forestry sectors
Results: The EOA 2023 Agriculture & Forestry report provides a quantitative assessment of the Nation’s then-current portfolio of Earth observations (data, measurements derived from the systems, platforms, sensors, networks, etc.) that measure the Earth and its processes in support of agriculture and forestry objectives.
Access the 2023 EOA for agriculture and forestry report.
Several USGS observing systems ranked in the top 10 percent of most impactful Earth observation inputs. Visit this
USGS article to learn more about the USGS contributions to Earth observations.
Economic Valuation of Landsat and Landsat Next 2023
Challenge: Evaluate the economic benefit of the current Landsat program including estimates of benefit for the planned Landsat Next satellite.
What we did: Published a new report about the Landsat satellite program – a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and National Aeronautics and Space Administration – that calculates its 2023 value at \$25.6 billion — a marked increase from its 2017 estimate of \$3.45 billion. The “Economic Valuation of Landsat and Landsat Next 2023” study also highlights additional benefits, including more than a billion dollars’ worth of indirect benefits.
Results: The report estimates that Landsat Next, the multi-spectral trio of satellites scheduled for launch in early 2030s, could bring in over \$33 billion in annual economic value.
Access the Economic Valuation of Landsat and Landsat Next 2023 study.
Visit this USGS news article to see how results from this new economic evaluation compared to previous economic studies for Landsat.