42
Chapter 5
objectives may be, nor are they likely to understand how those requirements
are expressed. On the other side of the gap are the operational users
(information consumers), each of whom expresses their information
requirements in different ways using the jargon of their particular discipline
and has little, if any, knowledge of what can be done to deliver information
from spaceborne platforms, how it can benefit them or what it is worth. In
addition, the motivation they might have to explore such things is quite
weak. This is illustrated in Figure 1 by showing a “Knowledge Gap”
separating those with enabling technology from those with a requirement for
economic, social, strategic, political or environmental information.
4.
BRIDGING THE GAP
When viewed from the perspective developed in the preceding sections,
it becomes apparent that for over 25 years those of us in the Earth
Observation business have essentially been custodians of a solution in search
of problems. While it is true that some examples exist of the operational use
of information derived from Earth Observation data, they are rare, and the
case for an adequate return on investment has not been an easy one to make.
Most of us believe, however, that the potential to achieve such a return exists
and continued progress in Earth Observation requires that this vision be
fulfilled. Our challenge is to find ways to bridge the knowledge gap.
The key inhibitor to bridging the knowledge gap is the fact that the
knowledge base supporting our understanding of how to convert
measurements from space into information of economic, social, strategic,
political or environmental value is so small and so weak. Bridging the gap
involves expanding and strengthening this knowledge base. It also involves
understanding and dealing with additional factors, which have inhibited the
use of space, based measurements for operational purposes. While it can be
credibly argued that there are many of these, three stand out:
1.
2.
The difficulty of processing data in a quantitative fashion due of the
absence of some of the ancillary data which are necessary.
The existence of alternate sources of information which are regarded as
adequate to the task.
3. The difficulties of obtaining data in a usable form.
If Earth Observation technology is to expand as a source of operational
information, these inhibitors must be recognized and dealt with.
It is this author’s view that the knowledge gap, in general, can only be
bridged from the technology side. There are two major reasons for this:
1. There is considerable motivation on the technology side of the gap to
build a bridge, whereas on the consumer side there is little or no
Chapter 5
objectives may be, nor are they likely to understand how those requirements
are expressed. On the other side of the gap are the operational users
(information consumers), each of whom expresses their information
requirements in different ways using the jargon of their particular discipline
and has little, if any, knowledge of what can be done to deliver information
from spaceborne platforms, how it can benefit them or what it is worth. In
addition, the motivation they might have to explore such things is quite
weak. This is illustrated in Figure 1 by showing a “Knowledge Gap”
separating those with enabling technology from those with a requirement for
economic, social, strategic, political or environmental information.
4.
BRIDGING THE GAP
When viewed from the perspective developed in the preceding sections,
it becomes apparent that for over 25 years those of us in the Earth
Observation business have essentially been custodians of a solution in search
of problems. While it is true that some examples exist of the operational use
of information derived from Earth Observation data, they are rare, and the
case for an adequate return on investment has not been an easy one to make.
Most of us believe, however, that the potential to achieve such a return exists
and continued progress in Earth Observation requires that this vision be
fulfilled. Our challenge is to find ways to bridge the knowledge gap.
The key inhibitor to bridging the knowledge gap is the fact that the
knowledge base supporting our understanding of how to convert
measurements from space into information of economic, social, strategic,
political or environmental value is so small and so weak. Bridging the gap
involves expanding and strengthening this knowledge base. It also involves
understanding and dealing with additional factors, which have inhibited the
use of space, based measurements for operational purposes. While it can be
credibly argued that there are many of these, three stand out:
1.
2.
The difficulty of processing data in a quantitative fashion due of the
absence of some of the ancillary data which are necessary.
The existence of alternate sources of information which are regarded as
adequate to the task.
3. The difficulties of obtaining data in a usable form.
If Earth Observation technology is to expand as a source of operational
information, these inhibitors must be recognized and dealt with.
It is this author’s view that the knowledge gap, in general, can only be
bridged from the technology side. There are two major reasons for this:
1. There is considerable motivation on the technology side of the gap to
build a bridge, whereas on the consumer side there is little or no