Earth Science 2: Economic and Societal Benefits

Expand and accelerate the realization of economic and societal benefits from Earth science, information, and technology.

Other Information:

NASA is working to help translate Earth science results into tangible benefits to help citizens in their everyday lives. For example, through its Applications, Commercial, and Education effort and the Commercial Remote Sensing Program, ESE cooperates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and growers’ associations to apply Earth science knowledge to agriculture. ESE has partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation to apply remote sensing data to highway routing. With the Federal Emergency Management Agency ESE is mapping flood plains to reduce life and property losses from severe storms. NASA works with industry and State and local governments to help commercialize Earth science information, technologies, and products; transfer them to everyday use; educate the public about them; and train a new generation of remote sensing experts. NASA partnerships also facilitate use of Earth science technologies and results by, for example, community-based environmental organizations and multijurisdictional hazard mitigation programs. NASA envisions that over the next 5 to10 years the private sector will be able to supply increasing amounts of the Government’s remote sensing data needs. National standards will bring interoperability to the remote sensing industry. Real-time, remote sensing knowledge will become available via the Internet. Linked models of the land, ocean, and atmosphere will vastly improve resource planning in both the public and private sectors. In addition to transferring Earth science technology for practical applications, NASA is working to make Earth science information readily accessible as a standard, essential part of education. This effort comprises kindergarten through high school, colleges and universities, and adult education venues. The goal is to encourage students to consider science and technology careers and to increase the Earth science literacy of all Americans. NEAR TERM PLANS: - Demonstrate applications of geospatial data to areas such as: agriculture, forestry, and urban and transportation planning - Expand use of commercial systems in collecting Earth system science data - Collaborate with educators to develop new curricula support materials using Earth science data and discoveries

Objective(s):

1: Practical Tools

2: Public Interest and Career Aspirations

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