Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

Develops algorithms for processing and analyzing satellite remote-sensing and multispectral/hyperspectral imagery, applying them to Earth observation, land-use change monitoring, and environmental-change detection.

⚙️ GeoVerse System Administration Division 🖥️ AI & Computing Sciences Division 🔬 Basic Sciences Division ⚡ Intelligent Geophysical Exploration Division 🛢️ Resource & Energy Engineering Division 🌍 Applied Geoscience Solutions Division 💼 Economics, Policy & Strategy Division 🎓 Education & Training Development Division 🚀 Innovation & International Collaboration Division

Mathematics Center Physics Center Chemistry Center Biology Center Atmospheric Sciences Center Stratigraphy & Sedimentology Center Structural Geology & Tectonics Center Petrology & Mineralogy Center Geochemistry Center Paleontology & Evolutionary Biology Center Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Center Hydrogeology & Soil Science Center Physical Oceanography Center Marine Geology & Geophysics Center Chemical Oceanography Center Marine Biology & Ecology Center

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⭐ Center Chief

Virginia Norwood

Center Head

💡 Satellite remote sensing pioneer, Landsat MSS designer

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1948–2006

Yoram J. Kaufman

Researcher

💡 Pioneered satellite-based methods for determining atmospheric aerosol optical properties and distinguishing human-caused from natural aerosols

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1895–1990

Talbert Abrams

Researcher

💡 Widely regarded as the father of American aerial photogrammetric mapping, founding one of the first commercial aerial survey and mapping companies

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1916–2000

John A. O'Keefe

Researcher

💡 Discovered the slight pear-shape asymmetry of Earth's figure through satellite orbital perturbation analysis, founding modern satellite geodesy

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1930–2018

Waldo Tobler

Researcher

💡 Formulated the First Law of Geography and pioneered quantitative and computational methods foundational to Geographic Information Systems

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1934–2020

David A. Landgrebe

Researcher

💡 Developed digital image analysis and pattern recognition techniques foundational to multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing data processing

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1952–2020

Konrad Steffen

Researcher

💡 Established long-term satellite and in-situ monitoring networks for Greenland and polar ice sheet mass balance and melt dynamics

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1918–2005

Robert N. Colwell

Researcher

💡 Widely regarded as a founder of modern remote sensing science, wrote the field's foundational textbooks and championed the Landsat program's development

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1868–1955

Robert W. Wood

Researcher

💡 Invented infrared and ultraviolet photography, establishing the optical foundation for spectral imaging beyond the visible range

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1913–1972

William T. Pecora

Researcher

💡 Championed the creation of the Landsat program as USGS director, founding satellite-based systematic land observation

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1927–2012

Charles S. Yentsch

Researcher

💡 Pioneered the science of measuring phytoplankton biomass through pigment optics, founding ocean color satellite remote sensing

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1896–1971

Sherman Fairchild

Researcher

💡 Invented the aerial camera and founded the aerial photogrammetric survey industry, establishing the technical foundation for mapping from photographs

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1889–1987

George W. Goddard

Researcher

💡 Pioneered military aerial photographic reconnaissance, developing high-altitude, night, and long-range aerial photography techniques

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1903–1992

Robert Morris Page

Researcher

💡 Invented pulsed radar and pioneered the foundational engineering principles underlying modern radar imaging systems, including synthetic aperture radar

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center

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1915–1997

Amrom Katz

Researcher

💡 Widely regarded as the father of satellite reconnaissance, advocating for and helping design the CORONA satellite imaging program

🔬 Basic Sciences DivisionRemote Sensing & Earth Observation Center