Volume 10, Number 3 • May/June 2002 • Technology Transfer

Scientist Discusses Commercial Use of Remote Sensing

Satellite technologies that could lead to more effective monitoring of crops, natural resources and disease outbreaks were the focus of the Space-Based Tools for Valley Economic Growth Conference.

Attendees heard David Peterson, chief of NASA Ames Research Center’s Earth Sciences division, speak about NASA’s geospatial technologies that have applications for agriculture and natural resource assessment.

“NASA’s remote-sensing data and models of the Earth system are being used to understand the entire Earth system and predict its response to natural and human-induced change,” said Peterson. “These same tools can be applied to many practical applications, from weather prediction to disasters, to agriculture and resources. I tried to illustrate how space-based tools, including commercial ones, can be used in a meaningful way by the end-user community.”

In addition to the introduction of NASA’s latest developments, the audience also learned more about the licensing and commercialization of space innovations.

“NASA technologies and knowledge are valuable resources often overlooked by many traditional industries,” said Ken Dozier, executive director of the Far West Regional Technology Transfer Center. “New high-velocity markets demand that competitive firms examine all options, and, hopefully, this event will begin a series of dialogs that will lead to economic development in the Merced (California) community.” Q

For more information, contact Robin Orans at NASA Ames Research Center, phone: 650/604-5875, fax: 650/604-1592, rorans@mail.arc.nasa.gov, or visit the Ames Earth Science Web site at http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/sge/env.html. Please mention you read about it in Innovation.

NASA Official: Jonathan Root • Web Design: Printing & Design Office, NASA Headquarters • Credits