gis-l: Gathering Non-Federal information about Landsat data continuity

[Clay, Linc]

GIS Users,

The Federal government is in the process of deciding what to do with =
LANDSAT.
To help in the decision-making, they are trying to determine the =
non-Federal
uses of LANDSAT data.  In this email is a list of questions pertaining =
to the
use of LANDSAT data.  If you have an interest in LANDSAT data, you are
invited to provide input.

-Linc

-----Original Message-----
From: shrug-l-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:shrug-l-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us]On Behalf Of Mclellan, Sue
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 4:29 PM
To: shrug-l@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: shrug-l: FW: Gathering Non-Federal information about Landsat
data continuity

If you get a chance please fill out questionnaire on use of LANDSAT
data. States input is needed.
Thanks
sm

Susan E. McLellan, Systems Project Admin.(GIS)
Florida Division of Forestry/ FRPSS
3125 Conner Blvd
Tallahassee, 32399-1650 FL
850-414-8554=20
850-488-8556 FAX
mclells@doacs.state.fl.us

<<snip...>>

Dear Federal Landsat users,

Following up on our information gathering efforts from Federal agencies,
we
would like to gather additional information regarding Landsat data use
from
the private sector.  If you know of NON-FEDERAL Landsat users (including
university researchers, contractors, value-added service or information
providers, or corporations), please forward this questionnaire to them
and
have them return their response to me as soon as possible, but no later
than September 28.

Thank you for your help.

Gene

LANDSAT DATA CONTINUITY -  REQUEST FOR INFORMATION<?xml:namespace prefix
=3D
            o ns =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy invites you to
provide information about your use of Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 data.
Although this is not a rigorous benefit-cost analysis, your input will
help
us assess the ways that Landsat data are used and Landsat's importance
to
the Nation.

Purpose:  The purpose of this questionnaire is to assess the importance
of
Landsat data and the impact of a potential data gap on the missions of
university research projects, corporate users, and value-added data
providers.   We would like to identify:

-  Critical uses of Landsat data
-  The effect of current degraded Landsat 7 data on institutional
missions
-  Potential impact of a Landsat data gap plus experience with alternate
data sources
-  Potential cost and operational impacts resulting from a Landsat data
gap

-  Critical needs and concerns concerning Landsat data

Who should respond?  Scientists, other technical users, program
managers,
and corporate or university managers who use Landsat data.

IF YOUR INSTITUTION OR COMPANY USES LANDSAT DATA, PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE
RESPOND TO THIS QUESTIONNAIRE.  Please feel free to pass the
questionnaire
along to other Landsat users.

Please answer the following questions briefly and return to
gwhitney@ostp.eop.gov as soon as possible, but before COB September 28.
NOTE:  We will compile the results for distribution, so if you prefer
that
your input not be distributed, clearly mark your response appropriately.

1.  Please tell us about you and your organization.  Provide as much
detail
as you wish:
      University researcher
      Contractor or consultant
      Value-added service or information provider
      Corporation
      Other  ____________________________

2.  Briefly summarize how Landsat 5 and/or Landsat 7 image data are used
in
your institution or company (one paragraph):
      How many projects or applications use Landsat data in your
      institution/company?
      Breadth and frequency (if repeated) of coverage needed
      Do you use un-enhanced data, purchase value-added information
      products, or do you process the data yourself?
      What kinds of reports or analyses result from your use of Landsat
      data?

3.  Are you able to use the degraded Landsat 7 data or current Landsat 5
data for your purposes, or is your mission compromised by the problems
with
Landsat 7?

4.  What are your alternate data sources to meet your mission needs?
What
technical compromise is required?  What is the cost differential?  Could
the alternate data sources satisfy your mission requirements for the
long
term?

5.  If there is a gap in acquisition of Landsat data, how would such a
gap
affect your programs and mission?

6.  How important is the cost of Landsat data to your programs?  If
Landsat
data were free, would your institution/company use significantly more
data
to enhance your mission?

7.  Would your programs use (or prefer) 10m resolution multispectral
data
if it were available at comparable cost?

8.  What is the primary source of funding for your work that includes
Landsat data?
      Totally funded by Federal funds (grants and/or contracts)
      Partially funded by Federal funds.  What proportion?
________________
      Private or corporate funding.
      Other.  Please specify ___________________________

9.  Do you have other concerns about Landsat continuity that are not
addressed by the previous questions?  If so, please provide them.

If your institution/company has conducted an analysis of Landsat use and
you would like to submit a white paper, please feel free to do so.
However, we would still like to make sure that the questions above are
answered.  Thank you.

_______________________________________
Gene Whitney, Ph.D.
National Science and Technology Council

Mailing address:
Executive Office of the President
Office of Science and Technology Policy
New <?xml:namespace prefix =3D st1 ns =3D
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Executive Office Building
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC  20502

Contact:
Phone: 202-456-6081
E-mail:  gwhitney@ostp.eop.gov
             (See attached file: Non-Federal questionnaire.doc)