REMOTE SENSING FROM SPACE; EXPERIENCES FROM THE 
SEVENTIES - PROGRAMS FOR THE EIGHTIES, AS VIEWED 
BY THE EROS PROGRAM 
Gene A. Thorley and John M. DeNoyer 
U.S. Geological Survey 
Reston, Virginia 
Summary 
The Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Program, a departmentwide pro- 
gram of the U.S. Department of the Interior administered by the U.S. Geological 
Survey, has been instrumental in defining the need for and helping to specify a 
number of data-gathering space systems (e.g., Landsat-1, and -2). These and 
other complementary activities, including image data production and dissemina- 
tion, research, and training, have been carried out in cooperation with the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration in an effort to improve the know- 
ledge of the renewable and non-renewable resources of the Earth, and thereby 
facilitate their wise use and management. 
The success of Earth viewing satellites has exceeded our expectations, but 
their full potential has not yet been fully exploited. Further improvements 
are needed to improve geometric fidelity and image quality, and to reduce the 
time between acquisition of data by the satellite and the distribution of these 
data to users. Promising new systems include the thematic mapper and Landsat-D 
passive and active microwave imaging systems, and the Fraunhofer Line Discrim- 
inator. Experiments with these systems will determine their utility to global, 
national, and local resource inventory and management. 
, 
In the '70's we experienced a period of explosive growth in data availability 
and applications research. In the '80's, we should strive to consolidate what 
we have learned by providing high quality image data products and computer- 
usable data in a timely manner, developing a common format to allow analysis of 
data from Earth Resources Satellites of all nations, reducing the user's cost 
of analysis through innovative applications of data compression and statistics 
(e.g., principal component analysis), obtaining more quantitative relations 
between the satellite-collected data and phenomena of interest on Earth, 
developing methods of integrating and processing remotely sensed data with 
other data bases, and overcoming technology transfer and institutional barriers 
which inhibit and delay the use of these important data sources. 
Introduction 
Man's adventures into space have improved our perception of the universe and 
expanded our knowledge of neighboring planets. These adventures have also 
served to remind us that within our current sphere of understanding, Earth 
alone is capable of supporting man's existence. Thus, after the heady triumphs 
of the 60's we have progressively looked inward, striving 'to understand our own 
Planet to that we may avoid disrupting its delicate ecological balance.