Satellite Remote Sensing Interests Survey
Please take a moment to fill out the survey at the end of this message
and return it by 31 December 2002 to:
survey [at] arcane.ucsd.edu
(PLEASE DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO THIS MESSAGE)
This survey can also be found at: http://arcane.ucsd.edu
Dear Colleagues:
Have satellite imagery or space-based remote sensing data have ever been
a part of your research or operational programs? Have you ever wondered
if satellite imagery or data might be helpful in your polar efforts?
Because of the remoteness and inaccessibility of the Arctic and
Antarctic, space-based data have a potentially larger role to play in
research and operations as compared with lower latitudes. However,
there remain many practical obstacles to effective use of space-based
assets by much of the polar science and operations communities.
The following brief survey is being conducted with support from the U.S.
National Science Foundation (NSF), to comprehensively assess how
satellite data are presently used in support of polar research and
expeditions, and to provide recommendations for improvement. We invite
your input in this survey, in as much or as little detail as you prefer
to provide.
This survey is similar to that carried out by Walsh et al. (2001), who
discuss NASA satellite data products relevant to polar research. The
emphasis here is effective use of satellite data in or close to the
field.
We value your input regardless of your level of experience with or
interest in satellite data. If you are very satisfied with a satellite
data source as it applies to your work, or if you would like to express
a desire for greater access to and understanding of remote sensing data,
this survey provides a forum to express your views.
The results of this survey will enable the NSF-supported polar satellite
remote sensing activities, including the Arctic and Antarctic Research
Center (AARC) at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Antarctic
Meteorology Research Center (AMRC) at the University of Wisconsin, and
the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) to formulate and recommend
improvements to polar satellite remote sensing services for the benefit
of high latitude researchers worldwide.
The results of this survey will be published in a suitable journal such
as Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. You may answer as
much or as little as you wish. Your individual responses will remain
confidential, unless you give us explicit permission to use them
directly. Responses to multiple-choice questions will be assimilated
and published in statistical analyses, but individual responses will not
be identified without your permission.
The survey follows at the end of this message. You can also find the
survey online at http://arcane.ucsd.edu. Please complete and return the
survey by electronic mail no later than December 31, 2002.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO THIS MESSAGE.
The return address is:
survey [at] arcane.ucsd.edu.
We look forward to your input.
Wishing you success in your polar endeavors,
Dan Lubin
Steven Hart
Arctic and Antarctic Research Center
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0221
e-mail: dlubin [at] ucsd.edu
Reference:
Walsh et al., 2001: Enhancing NASA's Contributions to Polar Science.
National Academies Press, ISBN 0-309-07670-6, 124 pp.
SURVEY OF THE POLAR SCIENCE AND OPERATIONS COMMUNITIES
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
You may fill out this text file directly in a word processor and
return to us electronically. Please return it either in plain ASCII
text, Microsoft Word, or Adobe Acrobat formats, only. You may answer as
much or as little as you wish. Please return the survey to
survey [at] arcane.ucsd.edu by 31 December, 2002. DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO
THE LIST SERVER THAT SENT YOU THE MESSAGE!In the multiple choice questions, you may find more than one answer
applicable. If so, please place a "1" by the most applicable answer.
For your other answers, you may "X" or numerically rank them.Note that responses to multiple choice questions will be collected
and analyzed statistically, but individual responses will not be
identified. For those who provide written responses, and do not request
confidentiality, we may quote a response in publication. If you have a
specific message you would like us to quote in publication, please
include it!Note that some of the questions invite candid statements about
satellite data acquisition methods and sources. Hence the need for
confidentiality at the respondent's request. By all means, feel free to
criticize the AARC, even though we're the ones conducting the survey.
If we're doing anything wrong, we want to know!
For those who manage satellite data centers/archives, please note three
disclaimers:
(a) We intend to publish these results in a generally positive way,
indicating what already works well, and what technologies need to be
developed or expanded to improve polar satellite data access, and what
purely bureaucratic obstacles may need to be removed to facilitate polar
satellite data access.
(b) In publication, we will NOT single out any satellite data center or
research project for criticism.
(c) We are NOT acting in any capacity serving as, or resembling, a
performance review of individual data centers or research projects for
the agency funding this survey, or any other government agency. The
only information transmitted to the NSF Office of Polar Programs will be
the summary of this survey published in the open literature, and
abstracts thereof, in fulfillment of our stated work plan. Individual
comments about any data center or research project will NOT be forwarded
to the NSF Office of Polar Programs.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Name:
Institution:
Address:
e-mail:
URL:
Should we keep your individual responses confidential? YES ( ) NO ( )
Your Area of Expertise. Please place a "1" by your primary response,
and also indicate other applicable responses ("X" or numerical order OK)
( ) A. Aviation
( ) B. Sea Officer
( ) C. Expeditionary planning (including logistics, weather
forecasting, deployment of assets in the field, science team
coordination)
( ) D. Development and/or manufacturing of polar-related supplies or
equipment
( ) E. Remote sensing science, including sensor design or mission
concepts/planning
( ) F. Development of in situ instrumentation or ground-based remote
sensors
( ) G. Polar biology/ecology - marine
( ) H. Polar biology/ecology - terrestrial
( ) I. Polar meteorology
( ) J. Climatology/climate change research
( ) K. The polar stratosphere
( ) L. The middle and upper atmosphere
( ) M. Ionosphere/magnetosphere/space physics
( ) N. Polar oceanography
( ) O. Sea ice
( ) P. Glaciology
( ) Q. Geology/geophysics
( ) R. Socioeconomic/humanities studies
( ) S. Historical studies
( ) T. Other/Detailed Comments:
- The location of your program.
( ) A. Arctic
( ) B. Antarctic
( ) C. Significant activities in both Arctic and Antarctic
GENERAL USE OF SATELLITE DATA
- Which best describes your use of satellite data or space-based assets?
( ) A. I have never used satellites or satellite data in support of
my program.
( ) B. I use satellites for automatically relaying data from remote
field stations (e.g., ARGOS telemetry).
( ) C. I use satellites mainly for communication and data transfer
between the high latitude research station where I work and lower
latitudes.
( ) D. I have occasionally used a satellite image (e.g., weather, sea
ice) to assist with my field work.
( ) E. I have occasionally used a satellite image (e.g., weather, sea
ice) to retrospectively understand and interpret data collected in the
field.
( ) F. My program frequently/regularly requires visual
inspection/interpretation of satellite imagery in support of field work
or field deployments.
( ) G. My program frequently/regularly requires visual
inspection/interpretation of satellite imagery to retrospectively
understand/interpret data collected in the field.
( ) H. My program requires occasional numerical analysis of satellite
data (see definition below) in support of field work.
( ) I. My program requires occasional numerical analysis of satellite
data as supporting information for my research (e.g., climate or
mesoscale modeling, ecological studies, etc.).
( ) J. My program requires frequent/regular numerical analysis of
satellite data in support of field work.
( ) K. My program requires frequent/regular numerical analysis of
satellite data as supporting information for my research.
( ) L. I frequently use satellite data for studies in the geophysical
science, ecology, space physics, or climate change as my primary
research tool. I primarily use satellite data products or algorithms
developed by others.
( ) M. My research involves using satellite data as the primary
research tool for studies in geophysical science, ecology, space
physics, or climate change. I generally develop my own algorithms for
this purpose.
( ) N. My research involves developing remote sensing retrieval
algorithms to retrieve specific geophysical quantities/products from the
raw satellite data (radiances, brightness temperatures). This is how I
spend most of my effort.
( ) O. Other/Detailed Comments:
Definition: By numerical analysis, we mean anything more involved than
naked-eye interpretation of a single image, including weather
forecasting model initialization/validation, tracking the motion of
meteorological or oceanographic phenomena, deriving meteorological
fields such as wind vectors, cloud masking, and so forth.
- What category of sensors do you use or plan to use?
( ) A. Primarily data relay and communications.
( ) B. Heritage visible/infrared imagers such as AVHRR, DMSP OLS.
( ) C. Heritage passive microwave instruments such as SMMR, SSM/I.
( ) D. Heritage sounders such as TOVS
( ) E. Heritage stratospheric instruments such as TOMS, SBUV.
( ) F. Synthetic Aperture Radar
( ) G. Scatterometers
( ) H. Radar Altimeters
( ) I. MODIS
( ) F. EOS-Terra platform instruments
( ) G. EOS-Aqua platform instruments
( ) H. EOS-Aura platform instruments
( ) I. Envisat instruments
( ) J. ADEOS instruments
( ) K. Other/Detailed Comments:
ACCESS TO SATELLITES AND SATELLITE DATA
- What is your primary source of satellite data? Please specify your
source (e.g., NASA, NASDA, ESA, etc.) in the comment field.
( ) A. Telemetry or low-level archived data directly from a major
government agency (NASA, NOAA, etc.).
( ) B. Geophysical data products directly from a major space agency
(e.g., MODIS cloud mask or TOMS ozone from NASA-Goddard Space Flight
Center, etc.).
( ) C. Polar data products and data sets archived at the National
Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
( ) D. The University of Wisconsin's Antarctic Meteorology Research
Center (AMRC).
( ) E. The Artic and Antarctic Research Center (AARC) at the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography.
( ) F. The Alaska SAR Facility or similar synthetic aperture radar
facility outside the United States.
( ) F. Telemetry or low-level archived data from another United
States satellite data archive source, e.g., EROS Data Center.
( ) G. Telemetry or low-level archived data from a non-United States
source.
( ) G. Readily used imagery from another source.
( ) H. Telemetry directly from satellite tracking antennas in the
field or aboard ship.
( ) I. Other/Detailed Comments:
- Which have been administrative obstacles to your satellite data
access?
( ) A. I have experienced no obstacles worth mentioning.
( ) B. It was difficult/time-consuming to locate a data center that
could provide the data I need.
( ) C. I can only acquire the data I need at significant dollar cost.
( ) D. Access to the data I need is restricted by government.
( ) E. Access to the data I need is restricted to "insider" groups,
and I cannot obtain it without forming artificial collaborations or
writing special proposals, exemptions, etc.
( ) F. Other/Detailed Comments:
- What is the primary format in which you receive satellite data from
your source?
( ) A. Raw (binary) telemetry
( ) B. A format developed by a specific government agency (e.g., NOAA
Level 1-B)
( ) C. Hierarchical Data Format (EOS-HDF)
( ) D. ASCII text or binary files of calibrated, geolocated data
( ) F. A format specific to a commercial software package
( ) G. Electronic image files (e.g., GIF, JPG, TIFF, etc.)
( ) H. Paper hardcopy
( ) I. Other/Detailed Comments:
- How do you receive your satellite data?
( ) A. Downloaded directly and instantaneously via the internet
( ) B. Internet download, after some delay while my data request
resides in a job queue
( ) C. Copies by magnetic tape
( ) D. CD-ROM
( ) E. Hardcopies
( ) F. Direct use of tracking facility in the field.
( ) G. Other/Detailed Comments:
- Ideally, how would you prefer to receive your satellite data?
( ) A. Downloaded directly and instantaneously via the internet
( ) B. Internet download, after slight delay while my data request
resides in a job queue
( ) C. Copies by magnetic tape
( ) D. CD-ROM
( ) E. Hardcopies
( ) F. Direct use of tracking facility in the field.
( ) G. Other/Detailed Comments:
- How long does it take your satellite data source to fill one of your
typical data requests?
( ) A. Longer than 4 weeks
( ) B. Between 2 - 4 weeks
( ) C. Between 1 - 2 weeks
( ) D. Less than 1 week
( ) E. Overnight
( ) F. In a few hours
( ) G. Within a few minutes
( ) H. Other/Detailed Comments:
- Is this data access time adequate for your needs?
( ) A. Yes. There is no adverse impact in the time it takes me to get
the data.
( ) B. Yes, but there might be some advantage in receiving the data
sooner.
( ) C. No. I would prefer to receive the data faster than the
source's normal delivery time.
( ) D. Other/Detailed Comments:
- What are significant delays or bottlenecks you experience when
getting satellite data from your source(s)?
( ) A. There are none worth mentioning.
( ) B. No single source can supply all of my satellite data
requirements.
( ) C. Difficulty in selecting data/images from a the source's data
catalogues.
( ) D. The source not always understanding details of my data request.
( ) E. The source is not always willing or able to accommodate my
specific polar requirements.
( ) F. One my request is received, there are significant delays in
processing the order.
( ) G. Data format conversion is time consuming.
( ) H. Other/Detailed Comments:
- Which describes the costs associated with your acquisition of
satellite data?
( ) A. There are no additional costs with using satellite data in
support of my program.
( ) B. Data acquisition costs are small, and can usually be taken
from the "supplies and expenses" or similar portions of my budget.
( ) C. Data acquisition costs are moderate, and have required some
rebudgeting of my grants or funding allocations.
( ) D. Data acquisition costs are large, and have required me to
write special proposals or supplements.
( ) E. I needed to purchase additional computer equipment/software to
use satellite data.
( ) F. I needed to hire additional personnel specifically to work
with satellite data.
( ) G. Other/Detailed Comments:
- Is present computer technology a limiting factor in your access to
satellite data?
( ) A. No. Present technology allows me to use satellite data
effectively.
( ) B. Transferring and storing the data I need is limited by
cost-effective technology.
( ) C. My analysis of satellite data is limited by cost-effective
technology.
( ) D. Other/Detailed Comments:
TRAINING
- Which best describes your familiarity with satellite data?
( ) A. There is really no practical application for satellite data in
my program.
( ) B. I would like to use satellite data more often, but I have no
formal training in remote sensing and have never found the time to learn.
( ) C. I let my employees/students manage the details of satellite
data, and provide mainly general supervision.
( ) D. I have received adequate education to use satellite remote
sensing data, informally from colleagues, and my own
reading/self-training.
( ) E. I have received formal education in remote sensing directly,
as an undergraduate or graduate student.
( ) F. I have sufficient education as an undergraduate or graduate
student in physics, engineering, geophysical sciences, etc., such that
learning to use satellite remote sensing was relatively straightforward.
( ) F. I have received most of my education in satellite data
directly from my primary data source.
( ) G. I have received most of my training in satellite data as part
of my job (e.g., Navy or Antarctic program-sponsored training courses).
( ) H. I have received most of my training in satellite data directly
from the company that sold me the satellite data tracking
hardware/software.
( ) I. Other/Detailed Comments:
- Which best describes the "learning curve" involved with
incorporating satellite remote sensing into your program.
( ) A. Very Steep. It took a year or more of procurement, training,
software development, etc., before satellite remote sensing was
successfully incorporated into my program.
( ) B. Steep. It took 6 months to a year of procurement, training,
software development, etc., before satellite remote sensing was
successfully incorporated into my program.
( ) C. Moderate. In approximately one academic semester, I was
getting useful results from satellite remote sensing.
( ) D. Moderately Easy. I received training, software, etc.,
relatively quickly such that satellite remote sensing data were useful
within a few weeks.
( ) E. Easy. My data source, or colleagues, provided ready-to-use
data and interpretation.
( ) F. Other/Detailed Comments:
- What were significant sources of delay when you began using
satellite data in your program?
( ) A. Education in the principles of remote sensing and applications
to your program.
( ) B. Training on the satellite tracking system.
( ) C. Training on a commercial software package to reduce the data
and process images.
( ) C. Software development/acquisition to manage/decode the file
formats.
( ) D. Basic data reduction, including radiometric calibration and/or
geo-location.
( ) E. Software development to retrieve specific geophysical
phenomena from the data, not available from commercial software
packages.
( ) F. Software development to assimilate satellite data into other
activities (e.g., meteorological models).
( ) G. Other/Detailed Comments:
- What is your primary method for visualizing, reducing, interpreting,
or manipulating satellite data?
( ) A. Manual inspection of images.
( ) B. GIS.
( ) C. A commercial satellite data software package (e.g., TeraScan,
McIDAS).
( ) D. A widely-distributed programming and graphics language (e.g.,
IDL).
( ) E. I produce my own specialized software to process the data.
( ) F. Other/Detailed Comments:
- When selecting and requesting satellite data from your source, which
best describes your experience?
( ) A. The source has comprehensive graphical browse or similar
capability, and selecting useful data is straightforward.
( ) B. I can view data catalogues only, but not image samples or
indications of geographical coverage, and data selection is sometimes
"hit or miss."
( ) C. There was an excessive amount of "jargon" used at the data
source, and deciding on what data types, formats, etc., took some time.
( ) D. The source was not really set up to provide my specific data
requirements in a timely manner, and data acquisition required some form
of negotiation.
( ) E. Other/Detailed Comments:
SUMMARY
- In a typical year, how many satellite images or scene overpasses
does your program utilize?
( ) A. More than 300, from multiple sensor types.
( ) B. More than 300, from primarily one type of sensor.
( ) C. Between 50 and 300, from multiple sensor types.
( ) D. Between 50 and 300, from primarily one type of sensor.
( ) E. Between 10 and 50.
( ) F. Fewer than 10.
( ) G. None.
( ) H. Other/Detailed Comments:
- Please describe the use of satellite data in your program, as
briefly or in as much detail as you wish:
- Please provide other comments and suggestions not specifically
covered by this survey:
End of Survey