U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Industry: An Analysis of Risks [Paperback]

David R. Frelinger (Author), Steven Berner (Author), Beth E. Lachman (Author), Kevin M. O'Connell (Author), John C. Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2001

This report assesses the key risks facing U.S. commercial remote sensing firms. These companies aim to become an important part of the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry, which today largely consists of aerial data providers and the value-added firms that play an important role in converting raw imagery data into the products desired by customers. This report provides some much-needed perspective on how these risks, or at least our appreciation of them, have changed from the early 1990s when the U.S. government took important steps to encourage the commercialization of satellite remote sensing.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This report assesses the key risks facing the emerging U.S.commercial remote sensing satellite firms against the backdrop of trendsunderlying the larger remote sensing industry and geospatial technologymarketplace. These risks are defined broadly to include technical,market, as well as policy and regulatory factors that could affect theprospects for commercial success of the U.S. private remote sensingsatellite firms. The report also examines the opportunities andconstraints on U.S. imaging satellite firms that must both competeagainst and seek partnerships with foreign remote sensing enterprises.The analysis presented in this RAND report should be of interestto U.S. government decisionmakers who deal with policy and regulatoryissues concerning the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry,particularly commercial imaging satellite systems, as well as thoseanalysts concerned with understanding the international context forcommercial remote sensing. In addition, the report is relevant to thework of corporate managers, planners, and market analysts involved inthe commercial remote sensing satellite industry.The U.S. Department of Commerce supported this research with theaim of better understanding the role that U.S. government policies andregulations play in shaping the prospects for the emerging commercialremote sensing satellite firms. It was specifically sponsored by theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which haslicensing and enforcement responsibilities for U.S. private remotesensing satellites, as well as the International Trade Administration(ITA), which is responsible for promoting the growth and internationalcompetitiveness of the U.S. remote sensing industry.This research was conducted for NOAA within the InternationalSecurity and Defense Policy Center of RAND's National Security ResearchDivision which conducts research and analysis for the Office of theSecretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Commands, the defenseagencies, the Department of the Navy, allied foreign governments, andfoundations.

About the Author

Kevin M. O'Connell (M.A., Public Policy, University of Maryland) is a Senior International Policy Analyst and the Manager of Intelligence Community Programs at Rand. John C. Baker is a technology policy analyst at Rand specializing incommercial observation satellite issues. As a former research staff memberat George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, he directed theSouth China Sea Remote Sensing project. Beth E. Lachman (M.S., Operations Research, Stanford University) is a policy analyst in Rand's Washington office. Her expertise includes systems analysis of environmental problems, environmental science and technology policy, sustainable development policy, mathematical modeling and GIS analysis of urban systems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Rand Publishing; 1 edition (October 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083303118X
• ISBN-13: 978-0833031181
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,337,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)