The Scale and Value of Earth Observation Infrastructure

• Main Author: Gallo, Jason
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: ESIP 2019
• Subjects: 90905 Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing; FOS Environmental engineering; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.8969924; https://esip.figshare.com/articles/The_Scale_and_Value_of_Earth_Observation_Infrastructure/8969924

Free and openly accessibly Earth observation data and information products are not free; they are the result of investments in a complex socio-technical infrastructure. This infrastructure includes multiple sensors, systems, networks, and sampling programs that measure Earth systems processes; information and communications networks to transmit these data; computational resources to process, model, analyze, reanalyze, store, and disseminate Earth observation data and information products; and a trained workforce to maintain and operate it. This talk will illustrate the scale complexity of this infrastructure using the example of sea ice modeling and the multiple space-based, airborne, terrestrial, and marine systems and computational resources needed to provide and maintain these crucial services. This presentation was given in July 2019 at the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Summer Meeting held in Tacoma, Washington.