Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

USGS’s National Land Imaging Program administers the longstanding grant program which has annual renewable option after the first year with the total award not exceeding $12 million over five years.  Subject to the availability of funds and initial program results, USGS anticipates funding this annually as an ongoing program.

Through a competitive proposal solicitation process, AmericaView was selected for the grant which aims to maintain a national consortium focusing on expanding remote sensing science through education, outreach and research development.

AmericaView is a university-led, state-base nationwide consortium of 300 university and local members across 41 states who work to advance the use of remote sensing data and technology in both the public and private sectors.

Grant objectives that AmericaView will support include identifying and communicating critical information and data requirements in support of remote sensing needs at local and state levels; fostering local and national strategic partnerships; promoting undergraduate and graduate research and employment skills; advancing education and training, technology transfer and outreach to enhance the nation’s current and future workforce; and by supporting the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretarial Priorities.

Projects will target states’ needs while promoting efficient access to data such as the extensive 50-year-plus Landsat satellite image archive, to support science research, landscape monitoring, natural resource management, climate change assessment and other identified uses.  

Also, key to these grant activities is communicating the vital remote sensing needs at the State and local level to support development of the Landsat Next mission.