Chapter 5
OPERATIONALIZATION OF EARTH
OBSERVATION
Its prospects and requirements
J. S. MacDonald
MacDonald Dettwiler, Richmond, B.C., Canada.
1.
INTRODUCTION
The concept of “operationalization” of Earth Observation refers to the
use of Earth Observation data in an “operational” way, which we will define
as the use of such data as a routine source of information, which has
economic, social, strategic, political or environmental value to a segment of
society. The implication of this definition is that operational users have, as
their objective, the generation of wealth through the application of derived
information in a continuous and routine way to the problems and issues of
our society. It also emphasizes the fact that the business of Earth
Observation is an INFORMATION business. The ultimate output product of
each acquisition by a space-borne (or airborne) instrument is information
about the surface and/or atmosphere of the Earth at a particular point in time.
The tangible result of all the effort that goes into building and operating an
Earth Observation spacecraft and its associated infrastructure is a set of
measurements of the Earth system from space from which we can derive
information of economic, social, strategic, political or environmental value.
It is this concept of the value of information which is key to understanding
the economics of Earth Observation and the issue of gaining a return on
investments made in such systems be they financed by public or private
means.
The Earth Observation field has reached a critical point in its
development. The environment in which we all operate is, at the present
time, undergoing rapid and fundamental change. Government funding is
35
M.M. Verstraete et al. (eds.), Observing Land from Space: Science, Customers and Technology, 35–46.
© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
OPERATIONALIZATION OF EARTH
OBSERVATION
Its prospects and requirements
J. S. MacDonald
MacDonald Dettwiler, Richmond, B.C., Canada.
1.
INTRODUCTION
The concept of “operationalization” of Earth Observation refers to the
use of Earth Observation data in an “operational” way, which we will define
as the use of such data as a routine source of information, which has
economic, social, strategic, political or environmental value to a segment of
society. The implication of this definition is that operational users have, as
their objective, the generation of wealth through the application of derived
information in a continuous and routine way to the problems and issues of
our society. It also emphasizes the fact that the business of Earth
Observation is an INFORMATION business. The ultimate output product of
each acquisition by a space-borne (or airborne) instrument is information
about the surface and/or atmosphere of the Earth at a particular point in time.
The tangible result of all the effort that goes into building and operating an
Earth Observation spacecraft and its associated infrastructure is a set of
measurements of the Earth system from space from which we can derive
information of economic, social, strategic, political or environmental value.
It is this concept of the value of information which is key to understanding
the economics of Earth Observation and the issue of gaining a return on
investments made in such systems be they financed by public or private
means.
The Earth Observation field has reached a critical point in its
development. The environment in which we all operate is, at the present
time, undergoing rapid and fundamental change. Government funding is
35
M.M. Verstraete et al. (eds.), Observing Land from Space: Science, Customers and Technology, 35–46.
© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.