AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATE OF INTERNATIONAL REMOTE SENSING 
DATA EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER 
John Felkner, National Center For Geographic Information and 
Analysis(NCGIA), University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of 
Geography, USA 
Commission VI, Working Group 4 
KEY WORDS: Remote Sensing Economy Distribution Exchange Global 
International 
ABSTRACT 
This paper attempts to analyze the current state of international remote sensing data 
exchange and transfer, with a special focus on conflicting policies between the U.S. 
and Europe (which together are responsible for the vast majority of remote sensing 
data that is generated). Both the need and the potential for the sharing of remotely 
sensed data internationally has never been greater. However, this paper will describe 
a number of economic, legal and policy issues that currently threaten to greatly 
restrict and confuse international sharing of remotely sensed data. 
more and more vital. We are currently 
witnessing the continuing growth of a 
OVERVIEW vibrant and rapidly growing commercial 
market for remotely sensed data which, 
These issues have very recently come to due largely to technical advances, allows 
the forefront of the international such imagery to be applied to an ever- 
scientific community because of disputes greater variety of applications at ever 
over data sharing policy that have arisen more cheaper prices. At the same time, 
in such international negotiations as the scientists across the globe stress more 
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) than ever the need for comprehensive 
Twelfth Congress (June, 1995), and in on- gathering of Earth observation data at 
going negotiations between the U.S. and global spatial scales and continuous 
the European Organization for the temporal scales. As our world approaches 
Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites the 21st Century, all nations together will 
(Eumetsat). The evolving legal and face the environmental and natural 
economic issues involved in consequent resource challenges that are already 
international negotiations between upon us. These include: global climate 
countries over sharing of remotely monitoring; natural resource 
sensed data are very likely to continue to management; and monitoring of 
come to the fore. For example, recent pollution for both land and aquatic 
negotiations between the U.S. ecosystems. For all of these activities, 
government and the Indian government remote sensing as a method of data 
over access to Indian remote sensing data collection offers unprecedented potential 
has brought in : :-issues involving for both quantity and accuracy of data 
proprietary rights for the data, collected for global scale understanding 
distribution rights, the U.S. First of these complex problems. The need for 
Amendment to the Constitution, as well as international cooperation to share and 
questions of national sovereignty and process this data is enormous. Such a 
security. scientific need most probably cannot be 
met by market driven mechanisms, and 
In the post-Cold War era, international this fact will continue to interfere with 
exchange of scientific data - including growing movements to attempt 
vital remote sensing data - is becoming 
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B6. Vienna 1996 
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