The Need for Satellite Earth Observations

Earth observations collected by satellites are essential for understanding, documenting, and forecasting all of Earth’s systems, from the geosphere to the atmosphere. The responsibilities of many United States federal agencies are directly related to such systems; they monitor water quality, respond to natural disasters, maintain our national parks, model and predict the weather, protect wildlife habitats, forecast air quality, monitor our natural resources, and much more. Each of these services requires Earth observations. 

The last decade has witnessed a revolution in remote sensing technology with a dramatic increase in the number and types of Earth observations. Free-data policies combined with easy access to unprecedented computing power have made satellite remote sensing more relevant than ever. While this development presents new opportunities for federal agencies to use Earth observations for the benefit of Earth, people, and countries, navigating the myriad of satellite missions and observations is not an easy task. NASA, as one of the main satellite Earth data providers to the U.S. Government, is in a unique position to assist with such navigation. 

Addressing Agency Needs

Through the U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG), NASA coordinates with other U.S. Government satellite data providers including USGS and NOAA to identify, communicate, and address the Earth observation needs of federal agencies. The SNWG surveys federal agencies every two years to identify what Earth observation data they need to fulfill their mission. As part of the USGEO, SNWG includes members from various federal agencies that use Earth observation data. Survey responses are assessed by NASA, NOAA, and USGS, as the science agencies of the U.S. Government, to identify agency needs, potential data gaps in the current NASA program of record, and relevant data sets. Solutions that meet the needs are formulated, and those that are estimated to significantly increase satisfaction of multiple U.S. agencies are selected by the Executive Branch for funding and implementation. To support this process, the SNWG Management Office (SNWG MO) facilitates the assessment of agency needs, oversees the implementation and operations of SNWG solutions, and initiates community engagement around SNWG solutions.

SNWG Solutions

The SNWG effort is unique in that it fosters interactions between NASA and over 25 other agencies, capturing high-priority satellite data needs across the federal government and allowing NASA to make connections and identify similar needs across multiple agencies.  SNWG solutions are also unique in the diversity of size, scale, and scope compared to other activities implemented by NASA and other agencies. They often involve blending data from multiple satellites to create a single product that can be used directly by decision-makers, allowing agency needs to be met without depending on a single mission. They could also enable the scaling or operationalization of data products from a single mission that otherwise could not have happened. NASA is implementing a wide variety of solutions to help meet federal agency needs, some of which are highlighted in the timeline below. Visit the SNWG solutions resource for a full list of activities being implemented, including a description, current status, and relevant links. 

SNWG in Action

SNWG's Stakeholder Engagement Program (SEP) is the key to developing user-centric solutions that assist in decision-making for federal agencies. Through the SEP, solutions are co-designed with end users to foster easier integration into their existing workflows. Below are "Data in Action" stories demonstrating SNWG solutions in action and their benefit to agency end users' processes.

• SNWG's HLS Product Benefits USDA-ARS's Adaptive Rangeland Management Needs
• USDA Uses HLS, an SNWG solution, Operationally to Detect Cover Crop Termination in the Chesapeake Bay Region
• USDA Uses HLS, an SNWG solution, to Track Crop Emergence across the Corn Belt