Benefits of the free and open Landsat data policy

The United States (U.S.) federal government provides imagery obtained by federally funded Earth Observation satellites typically at no cost. For many years Landsat was an exception to this trend, until 2008 when the United States Geological Survey (USGS) made Landsat data accessible via the internet...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Remote sensing of environment 2019-04, Vol.224, p.382-385
Main Authors: Zhu, Zhe, Wulder, Michael A., Roy, David P., Woodcock, Curtis E., Hansen, Matthew C., Radeloff, Volker C., Healey, Sean P., Schaaf, Crystal, Hostert, Patrick, Strobl, Peter, Pekel, Jean-Francois, Lymburner, Leo, Pahlevan, Nima, Scambos, Ted A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Federal government
Geological surveys
Land change
Land cover
Land use
Landsat
Landsat satellites
Open access
Open data
Policy
Private sector
Remote sensing
Satellite imagery
Satellite observation
Satellites
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Summary:The United States (U.S.) federal government provides imagery obtained by federally funded Earth Observation satellites typically at no cost. For many years Landsat was an exception to this trend, until 2008 when the United States Geological Survey (USGS) made Landsat data accessible via the internet for free. Substantial increases in downloads of Landsat imagery ensued and led to a rapid expansion of science and operational applications, serving government, private sector, and civil society. The Landsat program hence provides an example to space agencies worldwide on the value of open access for Earth Observation data and has spurred the adaption of similar policies globally, including the European Copernicus Program. Here, we describe important aspects of the Landsat free and open data policy and highlight the importance and continued relevance of this policy. •Free and open data policy is key to the ongoing success of the Landsat program.•Described important aspects of the Landsat free and open data policy•Highlighted the importance and continued relevance of Landsat open data policy
ISSN:0034-4257
1879-0704
DOI:10.1016/j.rse.2019.02.016