To address the growing problem of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) impeding wildland firefighting efforts, the U.S. Department of the Interior and industry partners activated a prototype warning system that provides real-time alerts and geofencing alarms to prevent drone pilots from interfering with firefighting operations.
Moth Damage Seen from Space
Although the headline conjures images of Mothra from the old Godzilla movies, the destructive insects in this care are the European gypsy moth caterpillar, which is experiencing a population boom and chewing through large swaths of hardwood forest in New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Esri Introduces New Type of Imagery Book
The ArcGIS Imagery Book is a new multimedia compilation published by Esri to help readers understand how imagery and remote sensing power modern GIS technology.
SmallSat Market: $22 Billion Over Next 10 Years
According to a Euroconsult report, Prospects for the Small Satellite Market, more than 3,600 SmallSats are expected to be launched over the next 10 years. The total market value of these satellites is anticipated to be $22 billion (manufacture and launch), a 76-percent increase over that of 2006-2015.
Aerial Hyperspectral Survey Assesses Alaskan Minerals
Although Alaska contains vast mineral deposits, its size and remoteness have prohibited study and extraction of these resources. To remedy this, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began the Alaska Hyperspectral Project to assess the applicability of hyperspectral surveying to rapidly acquire data about the distributions of surficial materials, including different types of bedrock and ground cover.
Copernicus Accelerator Seeking Applications
Until July 18, 2016, the European Commission is taking applications from individuals and teams from startups, SMEs, industrial companies, research institutes and universities for its Copernicus Accelerator, which hopes to foster development of commercial space applications and products.
Amazon Basin Drought Upping Fire Risk
In South America's Amazon basin, El Niño conditions in 2015 and early 2016 reduced rainfall during the wet season, leaving the region drier at the start of the 2016 dry season than any year since 2002.
ISRO Launches 20 Satellites from One Rocket
On June 22, 2016, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched 20 satellites from its PSLV C-34 rocket.
Humanitarian Project Aims to Provide Satellite Data
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) set up the EO4HumEn+ Project to better provide satellite data for humanitarian aid organizations worldwide.
Sentinel Shows Sinking Land
Focusing on The Netherlands and Denmark, scientists have been using radar images from the European Space Agency Sentinel-1A satellite to determine where ground is stable or how much it may be rising or sinking.