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analogous to those used in Canada for RADARSAT [RAJDARSAT 1982, DTI Telecom- 
Econosult, 1987]. 
The trend is now firmly established. Virtually all remote sensing data products are 
available at a price rationalized by internationally agreed expressions of marketability. 
Typical prices are in the range of $4000 dollars per frame of digital data. Data sales world 
wide amount to several tens of millions of dollars per year, and are increasing at an average 
rate of more than 25% per year. All remote sensing data suppliers enjoy government 
subsidies, but to varying degrees. After years of deficit financing, the first annual profit in 
the business was reported for 1989 (SPOT Image). 
Implications of the Market Place 
From the point of view of global science, monitoring should lead to greater 
knowledge and understanding of environmental issues. This expectation is the basis for 
EOS, in response to which data supply to scientists is included in program planning. It 
follows at least for this one example that the issue of data availability through the market 
place for passive monitoring of global environmental parameters is not foreseen as a crucial 
issue, although the availability of an adequate number of suitably trained scientists is of 
concern [Rasool, 1989]. 
Active monitoring presents an additional and more pressing set of considerations 
concerning terms of the availability of the needed data. Active monitoring implies that 
information derived from remote sensing data is put to use by those who have the authority 
to manage the resources being observed. In general, these people are not the scientific 
community addressed by programs such as EOS. Active monitoring should lead to better 
resource management strategies, but only in the very long run. There would be substantial 
economic impact from effective monitoring and management, yet the benefits would be 
distributed over many beneficiaries, including ultimately all of the human race [World 
Commission on Environment and Development 1987]. Whereas the long range public 
benefits of active environmental monitoring using remote sensing are recognized in principle 
[e.g., Analytic Sciences Corporation, 1988], there has been insufficient consideration of the 
implications of this fact on data policy. 
The market place philosophy applies when a customer expects to realize value 
received for money spent. There are many applications of remotely sensed information for 
which this model is appropriate. Unfortunately, not all uses of remote sensing data satisfy 
this model [Aronoff 1985]. One prime exception is large scale environmental monitoring. 
Environmental preservation and restraint is like saving: the benefits are not evident in the 
short run. The problem is compounded for environmental issues for which local authorities 
are faced with the choice to benefit from short term resource use, or to refrain from such 
use in the interests of long range and less tangible benefits. There is little market demand 
for data in support of the latter choice.