The document summarizes a report on the use of remote sensing data by 19 US civilian federal agencies. It finds that 11 agencies report extensive use, primarily for natural resource management, while 4 report moderate use. The main concerns expressed by agencies are the cost and licensing restrictions of commercial satellite data, which limit data sharing and availability. The report concludes that making data more affordable or increasing agency budgets could help agencies use remote sensing data more and share it with partners.

1. Assessment of Remote Sensing Data Use by Civilian Federal Agencies a report by the Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on International Security Proliferation, and Federal Services Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Chairman Presented by Dr. Sherri Stephan January 14, 2003

4. Agencies reporting extensive use of remote sensing (11 of 19): USAID USDA Commerce (NOAA) DOE EPA Interior FEMA Justice NASA NSF State

5. Agencies reporting moderate use of remote sensing (4 of 19): HHS HUD Transportation Treasury No use (4 of 19): Education Labor Amtrak Peace Corps

6. Wildfire Management – August 2000 (NOAA)

7. Resource Management, Land Cover (NASA)

8. Basic Research, UV Radiation Exposure (NASA)

9. Tropical Storm Daniel heading for Hawaii (GOES 10, NOAA)

13. Data Sources: U.S. Government: NOAA, NASA, USGS USAF/DOD, NIMA aerial (NAPP), NRO Non-U.S. Government: ESA, CSA, Japan U.S. Commercial: Space Imaging, OrbImage commercial aerial Non-U.S. Commercial: SPOT, RADARSAT, IRS OKEAN-O