[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

NARA to Destroy LandSat Photos



Ian Thomas uses LandSat satellite photos to track migratory birds patterns
- which change over time and like the canary in the mine - may predict
environmental hot zones.  Unfortunately NARA and the USGS are about to
routinely destroy the older LandSat data collection.  Disaster may have
been averted  since Ian, having stumbled onto the Federal Register (FR)
destruction Notice - blew the whistle.  I would hope that NARA, could do a
better job of letting the research community know of impending record
destruction.  The Federal Register, is not a routine read for most folks.
 There's just a lot of stuff to wade through.  The wise policy is for NARA
to keyword each Federal Record entry, and set up an automated e-mail notice
sot that could subscribe, under sets of keywords, to receive timely notices
of the records that interest them most.  But for now, folks may be finding
out at the last moment - like Ian - Today, Monday February 12th, is the
last day for comments.    Eddie Becker  ebecker@cni.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Very Urgent: Important Landsat Archive will be destroyed, please help
by Ian Thomas 9:12pm Sat Feb 10 '01
phone: (301)497-5636 ian_thomas@usgs.gov
Please forward this message to all with an interest in saving and
increasing public access to one of the most important international
environmental datasets. If you are unfamiliar with Landsat, a very quick
non-technical introduction to why the issue below is important can be found
at the following web page:
Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change
http://edc.usgs.gov/earthshots/slow/tableofcontents
Please forward this message to all with an interest in saving and
increasing public access to one of the most important international
environmental datasets. If you are unfamiliar with Landsat, a very quick
non-technical introduction to why the issue below is important can be found
at the following web page:
Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change
http://edc.usgs.gov/earthshots/slow/tableofcontents


WHY IS THIS EMAIL URGENT?

One of only two existing archives of early Landsat satellite photographs is
in danger of being destroyed. The archive in question contains all data and
photographs from Landsat 1, 2 & 3 satellites, taken up to the year 1978.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the current
custodian of the data placed a notice in the U.S. Federal Register seeking
public comment on the decision to destroy this archive.

The decision to destroy the NARA Landsat archive has apparently been
approved by the USGS National Mapping Division based on the assumption that
the archive is an exact duplicate of a USGS Landsat archive. It is unclear
how National Mapping Division came to this conclusion when there is no
catalogue of the NARA Landsat archive. In particular, it is of great
concern that there may be "value added" materials within the NARA Landsat
archive that are NOT present in the USGS Landsat archive.

These materials may include currently unavailable interpreted images, photo
enlargements and large area mosaics that would take much labor and cost to
recreate. In addition, the decision to rely on a single copy of these
datasets is questionable especially considering that the storage media
(both film and tape) is now almost three decades old and variable quality.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The deadline for public comments is close of business, Monday, February 12,
2001. It is urgent that concerned scientists and members of the public
email Marie Allen, Director of the Life Cycle Management Division at
National Archives mailto:records.mgt@arch2.nara.gov or FAX to
(301)-713-6852 and please express the opinion that this invaluable archive
should not be destroyed but should in fact be opened up for greater public
access. Please be sure to cite the following reference information in your
email: "item 20 (N2-77-01-1) posted in the NARA notice, Federal Register,
December 29, 2000"

At a minimum your email should contain the following message:

"In reference to item 20 (N2-77-01-1) Copies of satellite imagery files
posted in the NARA notice, Federal Register, December 29, 2000. I strongly
oppose the decision to destroy this invaluable global environmental
dataset. Instead, I urge the National Archives to make all possible efforts
to make the data in question freely available for public access. I request
all information necessary for me to be able to fully comment further on the
decisions of the National Archives with regard to this matter."


BACKGROUND ON THE ARCHIVE

In 1972 the United States launched the first of the Landsat satellites.
Since then five other Landsat satellites have been successfully launched.
Landsat 7 is currently taking pictures today continuing the critical
monitoring of forests, ice sheets, agriculture, mining and other human
activities that is so important if we are to understand more about how our
environment is changing either from climate change or from direct human
actions. To understand and measure environmental change you need to have
the historic perspective.

The Landsat program represents the most important remote sensing program.
It has recorded in great detail changes in the global environment over a
period of almost three decades. No other satellite program has achieved
such a continuous, complete and detailed record of Earth.

In 1978 the archive of photographs taken by Landsat 1, 2 & 3 was
transferred from NASA and sent to two other agencies, the United States
Geological Survey (USGS) and the Army Corps of Engineers. The USGS Landsat
archive is now maintained by the National Mapping Division at the EROS Data
Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The other Landsat archive (the archive
now at NARA) was used by the Army Topographic Laboratory at Fort Belvoir
and by the Defense Mapping Agency until its transfer to the National
Archives. Although National Archives has held this Landsat archive for some
years it has been inaccessible to the public. The archive is not listed in
any public finding aid and is uncatalogued. Requests to view even sample
materials have been denied as the material is kept in cold storage.


AN ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION

The availability of two archives presents a unique opportunity. USGS should
continue to preserve its Landsat archive at the highest standards.
Currently Landsat 1, 2 & 3 images are available from USGS through the
Global Land Information System (GLIS) online ordering for a cost of $200.00
per image (see http://edc.usgs.gov/glis/glis.html)

The NARA Landsat archive should be opened up to the general public for
direct access at National Archives or should be donated to any other
organization willing to maintain and provide public access to what is an
invaluable resource.




Ian Thomas

United States Geological Survey
Biological Resources Division
GIS & Remote Sensing Unit
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
11510 American Holly Drive
Laurel, MD 20708-4015
phone: (301)497-5636
fax: (301)497-5666
email: ian_thomas@usgs.gov
http:\\www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov



REFERENCES:
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

Notice in the US Federal Register: December 29, 2000 (Volume 65, Number
251) [Page 83100-83102]