Remote Sensing and Imagery

High-tech transforms business when accurate remote sensing guides operations
By Chuck Wheeler Remote sensing businesses have revolutionized modern geographic information. Remote sensing businesses provide a powerful tool, pairing digitized maps and geographic data with photographic imagery. Getting started with remote sensing and imagery for business requires a significant financial investment, but the return is increased profitability.

Work with statewide or county-level remote sensing businesses. Many suppliers of remote imagery software also have contacts with staff at appropriate government agencies and can expedite delivery on the most current information. Talk to several remote sensing companies before selecting your provider. Most businesses invest the time and money to train staff members to use remote sensing. Here are some benefits of remote imagery:

1. Gain a competitive advantage in business by using remote sensing and imagery to create a digital geo-referenced base map of resources.

2. Remote imagery is accurate down to the range of one to 10 yards, depending on the location and availability of digital coverage.

3. Acquire the most up-to-date digital imagery and remote sensing agricultural data by working directly with experts in the field of remote sensing and imagery for agriculture.

Contact government experts for remote sensing and imagery

Each year, federal, state and local governments invest billions of dollars on remote sensing information. Remote sensing companies have worked with natural resource developers to become a huge industry. Government agencies have responded to these technological innovations by gathering remote sensing and digital imagery and geological data. These agencies provide information about remote sensing, and also monitor and regulate businesses involved in remote sensing.
Try:  Use the free information available from GeoCommunity, which has national, statewide and county level remote sensing data. Or, check out the map offered by the National Association of Conservation Districts to find your nearest conservation district office. They're located throughout the United States, and are one of the best sources for local remote sensing and imagery for agriculture.

Use remote sensing information to make a digital base map of your property

A digital base map is essential in remote sensing. A base map provides business owners and operators with a 3D representation of land characteristics, which can then be used in such applications as precision farming, transportation and natural resources to guide in the field business practices.
Try:  Employ a geographic information system (GIS) specialist from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to create a base map of your properties with remote imagery. ERDAS can offer an enterprise-wide solution to all your company's GIS and remote sensing and imagery needs.

Buy remote sensing information

Buying remote sensing information is a practical way to get a general understanding of existing conditions in a specific area. You can get imagery for a quick overview with relative ease. This is the only way to obtain most remote sensing information once you've established GIS and remote sensing as an integral element of your business.
Try:  Buy directly from the United States Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS). The TerraServer calls itself the leader in online imagery and has gigabytes of remote sensing and imagery for agriculture.

• Only work with a certified remote sensing business when buying remote sensing equipment. Do some background research on the availability of information in your area before you develop a digital base map.