U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services (ISPFS), today released a report entitled "Remote Sensing Use By Civilian Federal Agencies" prepared by the Subcommittee and the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
In January 2001, Senator Akaka requested the Congressional Research Service to conduct a survey of remote sensing data and technology use by federal non-military agencies to improve Congressional understanding of the issues that arise in obtaining and applying the technology. ISPFS Subcommittee staff used the CRS survey results, included in the report as an appendix, and the CRS collected agency responses to analyze how federal agencies use remote sensing.
"Since the first photographs of enemy troop positions from a hot air balloon in 1860, there have been military and intelligence applications of remote sensing data," Akaka noted. "Today, in this new age of terrorism and homeland security concerns, users now include local first responders, city planners, and state officials. This creates a new challenge for commercial and government data providers to translate our impressive imagery technology into a capability that can be exploited by users quickly and easily.
"The widespread availability of detailed and accurate satellite imaging data has made the world increasingly transparent. Observational capabilities that only a few decades ago were classified and strictly limited are now owned and operated by both government and private-sector organizations. For example, Space Imaging's Web site contains satellite photos of the attack on Kandahar.
"Satellite images have also revolutionized the study of the natural environment and global hazards, agriculture, transportation and urban planning, law enforcement, education, energy use, public health trends, and international policy. Researchers in my state of Hawaii, in partnership with NASA, NOAA and others, use remote sensing data for many purposes, such as to monitor water temperature and climate variability for tsunami early warning and evacuation planning, environmental impacts on fisheries, and volcano monitoring."
There is now a national capability to provide remote-sensing data products and value-added information services directly to end users, such as farmers, foresters, fishermen, natural resource managers, and the public. This fall, researchers on Kauai demonstrated how remote sensing data from unmanned aerial vehicles could be used to help determine precisely when a coffee crop is ready for harvesting.
New imaging technology and new data systems provide a rich opportunity for federal agencies to improve their services. The 19 agencies included in this study span the roles of the federal government from basic research centers to law enforcement. All but four report some use of remote sensing data and technology. These agencies use data for environmental and conservation purposes, early warning and mitigation of natural disasters; basic and applied research, mapping activities, monitoring and verifying compliance with laws and treaties, agricultural activities, and transportation and shipping.
The report will be available on the International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services Subcommittee's Web site at www.senate.gov/~gov_affairs/ispfs.htm from Friday, December 14, 2001.
