Rapid access to remote sensing data: role of information technology

Remote sensing technology has made a significant impact on improving the quality of life during its existence in the current form during the last three decades. Though one could argue that aerial photography has been used for several decades before, it is the multispectral remote sensing that has really accelerated the use and application of this technology very rapidly and with the launch of Landsat, opened up a new era. Ever since, the applications have grown manyfold and have been finding newer territories of usage at frequent intervals. However, this technology, especially from the spacecraft design, building, testing, launch and mission operations point of view, remains the stronghold of only a few select countries like USA, France, India, Japan and Canada besides European Space Agency. A few other countries are on the verge of joining this limited number. Initially the Landsat data was provided free of cost to a number of principal investigators around the world who had agreed to share the scientific findings/results of their study using the data received under the program. From this stage, we have today reached a position wherein many commercial organisations are on the anvil of launching their own satellites with a plan to provide data services on a commercial basis. One has to wait and watch the developments in this direction as the scenario unfolds during the coming several months and a few years