Our data, analysis tools, and analytical methods support satellite architecture studies, determine science mission requirements, inform collaborations with domestic and international partners, and support investment decisions such as commercial data purchases.
ANALYSIS
We perform various analyses to evaluate how different remote sensing systems and products, also called capabilities, support Earth observation (EO) user communities.
After collecting remote sensing user needs, we characterize EO capabilities by documenting their specifications including spatial resolution, altitude, temporal frequency, and spectral bands. In addition to simple single-sensor systems, we can model sets of satellites (virtual constellations) and more advanced data products across U.S. Government, international, or commercial systems. After characterization and modeling, we perform user needs analyses to understand how well a satellite system or product meets the needs of users by evaluating factors such as spatial resolution, temporal frequency, geographic coverage, and spectral accuracy.
We use our analysis results to develop actionable recommendations to the National Land Imaging Program about strategic investments, mission planning, and product development. This helps RCA-EO identify investments that can benefit the most users. For more than 10 years, we have been helping to shape the priorities of the National Land Imaging Program through user-driven analyses.
Program Highlights
User Needs-Driven Landsat 10 Mission Design
Challenge: Over the past 50+ years, the Landsat data user community has grown exponentially. Understanding community user needs is crucial to informing the design of future Landsat missions.
What we did: In 2015, we initiated a community-wide user needs collection process, built an analytical tool and supported the 2019 Landsat Architecture Study Team (AST). We delivered the most comprehensive and data-driven user needs study since the beginning of the Landsat program, evaluating more than 200 different Landsat 10 architectures against more than 350 unique land imaging user needs.
Results: We identified specific enhancements for the Landsat 10 mission design and developed recommendations grounded in user needs.
Learn more about the Landsat 10 Mission.
Assess National Land Imaging Data Acquisitions
Challenge: The Sustainable Land Imaging (SLI) partnership directs the USGS to lead cross-agency efforts to identify user-driven gaps in land imaging capabilities. As such, we are charged with evaluating land imaging user needs against space-based land imaging capabilities to identify gaps.
What we did: In 2021 we leveraged our database of 758 user needs and developed an innovative new tool to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in the current architecture, modeling and evaluating over 100 different satellite systems.
Results: We identified three specific commercial, space-based data acquisitions to supplement the existing land imaging architecture to meet needs.
Support USGEO Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG)
Challenge: Federal agencies use Earth observation data and services for a variety of mission goals. The U.S. Group on Earth Observation’s (USGEO) SNWG biennial survey allows federal agencies to identify Earth observation data, software and solutions needed to fulfill their various missions.
What we do: We collaborate with SNWG interagency partners to evaluate survey submissions to understand agency needs, discern gaps in the current Earth Observation (EO) program of record, recommend and aid in co-designing potential solutions. National Land Imaging Program staff serve on all aspects of the SNWG process, including the SNWG’s Solutions Applications Board which evaluates potential solutions based on several factors including scientific merit, impact, and feasibility.
Results: In a decade of SNWG partnership, we helped deliver 29+ solutions that close agency data gaps and put Earth observation data to work government-wide, including the widely used Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 data.
Learn more about the Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG).
Support the NASA Senior Review with Satellite Data Usage
Challenge: NASA’s Science Mission Directorate conducts regular reviews to guide the future of its operating missions. As such, the USGS has served in review activities and provided detailed information on Department of the Interior uses of NASA remote sensing data. Specific research and operational applications and dependencies are provided and used to evaluate the impacts of mission operations.
What we do: Every few years and upon request, RCA-EO provides mission specific DOI agency user community information to the NASA Earth Science Senior Review processes, totaling more than a decade of service and hundreds of unique inputs, to date.
Results: We respond to NASA mission evaluation requests with DOI findings and expert recommendations. We aid in the evaluation reports that inform mission operation decisions. This actively informs investment directions related to Earth observation missions. The quantitative nature of the RCA-EO data provided is of direct utility to decision makers.
Learn more about NASA Senior Reviews.
Civil Application Committee Collaboration
Challenge: The Civil Applications Committee (CAC) facilitates civil agency use of remote sensing data from military and intelligence sources. As such, we routinely provide a coordinated set of land imaging user needs from civil agencies that address relevant applications.
What we do: Annually, since 2020, we collect high resolution user needs to deliver an integrated, coordinated, and consistent set of civil application needs for consideration by the intelligence community. To date we have submitted over 220 needs for this purpose.
Results: We work to support civil agency user access to remotely sensed data from intelligence sources. Doing so advances scientific research by supporting appropriate data sharing, while also improving government efficiency by managing that sharing through a single, cost-effective mechanism.
Learn more about the Civil Applications Committee.
Assess Wildland Fire Earth Observation Gaps
Challenge: Wildland fires have grown into a more serious and complex problem in recent years, causing increasingly severe damage. Professionals in this field rely on Earth observation data to understand the fire life cycle but data gaps limit comprehensive assessment.
What we did: In 2022, we conducted a 6-month evaluation of gaps in Earth observation systems and data related to pre-, active-, and post-wildland fire activities interviewing 99 subject matter experts.
Results: We identified 21 actionable recommendations addressing the gaps that would provide tangible, near-term benefits to stakeholders in the community. Learn more about USGS Wildland Fire Science.
Analyze User Needs for the Sustainable Land Imaging Mission Alternatives Assessment Team (MAAT)
Challenge: In 2025, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) stood up the MAAT as an independent body to advise NASA on options to be responsive to the President’s budget request for the Fiscal Year 2026 by assessing alternative Landsat 10 architectures. As such, we were charged with evaluating the impact of alternative architectures on land imaging user needs.
What we did: We identified specific user need, data quality and other key tradeoffs in various architectures impacting the land imaging user community and Landsat continuity.
Results: Delivered performance evaluations of Landsat 10 architecture options to inform MAAT recommendation development. Learn more about the NASA SLI MAAT.
Lead USGEO’s Earth Observation Assessment
Challenge: The Earth Observation Assessment (EOA) evaluates the effectiveness of civil Earth observation systems in meeting federal objectives to guide investments and inform the National Plan for Civil Earth Observations.
What we did: Since 2012, we have led 3 EOAs actively facilitating the assessment process, collecting data, and analyzing results. Most recently, we conducted a 2-year study to evaluate the use of Earth Observation data across several societal benefit areas. We documented federal government use of 1,450 data products using over 3,000 Earth observation data sources.
Results: Our analysis highlighted how Earth observation data sources are leveraged to enhance food supply, improve resilience to disasters, maintain long term environmental records and contribute to many more societal benefit areas. We documented over 20,000 data dependencies and provided a ranked list of the most impactful data sources to support these areas. Learn more about the Earth Observation Assessment (EOA).