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Landsat Benefits, State By State

By National Land Imaging Program

Orbiting 438 miles above the Earth, Landsat satellites capture imagery of the face of our planet. Scientists, land and water resource managers and more use the data to study and monitor how the land is changing. From mapping wildfires, to monitoring urban growth and the quality of water sources, Landsat data return billions of dollars in economic value to all 50 United States.

Landsat satellites contribute to the health and well-being of human life as well as our Nation’s land resources and enables us to better understand the scope, nature, and speed of change to the natural and man-built environment. Landsat’s overall economic valuation was estimated at $25.6 billion in 2023. 

Media
Image of Landsat 8 over the US
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
This illustration shows the Landsat 8 satellite in space over the United States. 

Landsat is the most widely used land remote sensing data source within Federal civilian agencies. Information from Landsat contributes to day-to-day decisions on land, water, and resource use that protect life and property; safeguard the environment; advance science, technology, and education; support climate change resiliency; and grow the U.S. economy. 

Landsat satellite imagery provides a landscape-level view of land surface changes and is used by Local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to make informed decisions for the best land management practices.

Landsat’s 50-year record and gold standard rating for data quality have made its archive an indispensable tool for GIS-based research. Landsat 9 carries on that tradition of excellence, maintaining the program’s continuity for its myriad users and uses.

Check out how Landsat is used in your State below.  

 

 

Find Your State

 

two landscapes with "Alabama" written across
two landscapes with "Alaska" written across
two landscapes with "Arizona" written across
two landscapes with Arkansas written across
two landscapes with California written across
two landscapes with Colorado written across
two landscapes with Connecticut written across
two landscapes with Delaware written across
two landscapes with Florida written across
two landscapes with Georgia written across
two landspaces with Hawaii written across
two landscapes with Idaho written across
two landscapes with Illinois written across
two landscapes with Indiana written across
two landscapes with Iowa written across
two landscapes with Kansas written across
two landscapes with Kentucky written across
two landscapes with Louisiana written across
two landscapes with Maine written across
two landscapes with Maryland written across
two landscapes with Massachusetts written across
two landscapes with Michigan written across
two landscapes with Minnesota written across
two landscapes with Mississippi written across
two landscapes with Missouri written across
two landscapes with Montana written across
two landscapes with Nebraska written across
two landscapes with Nevada written across
two landscapes with New Hampshire written across
two landscapes with New Jersey written across
two landscapes with New Mexico written across
two landscapes with New York written across
two landscapes with North Carolina written across
two landscapes with North Dakota written across
two landscape with Ohio written across
two landscapes with Oklahoma written across
two landscapes with Oregon written across
two landscapes with Pennsylvania written across
two landscapes with Rhode Island written across
two landscapes with South Carolina written across
two landscapes with South Dakota written across
two landscapes with Tennessee written across
two landscapes with Texas written across
two landscapes with Utah written across
two landscapes with Vermont written across
two landscapes with Virginia written across
two landscapes with Washington written across
two landscapes with West Virginia written across
two landscapes with Wisconsin written across
two landscapes with Wyoming in Landsat

Related

Landsat's View of the USA

How does your state use Landsat satellite data? Find out here! For each state, you can download a satellite image, put together an online puzzle, or read a USGS Fact Sheet that contains information about the benefits of Landsat.
By
National Land Imaging Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Landsat Missions

Remote Sensing Classroom

We’ve created fun and engaging educational lessons that allow students to look at satellite imagery and perform the same analysis as our remote sensing scientists at EROS. Students of all ages can learn how remote sensing scientists use Landsat satellite data to track changes to the Earth’s surface over the years. We’ve also added a few games and puzzles so you can test your skills too.
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

Landsat: 50 Years Observing a Changing Earth

For a half-century, the Landsat satellites have revealed patterns of change across our crowded planet. Learn more with this storymap that ESRI and USGS created together.
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Land Imaging Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Landsat Missions

Below are news stories associated with this project.

link
Landsat 9 image of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area - The Valley of the Sun

Landsat’s Economic Value increases to $25.6 Billion in 2023

A new report about the Landsat satellite program – a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and National Aeronautics and Space Administration – calculates its 2023 value at $25.6 billion—a marked increase from its 2017 estimate of $3.45 billion.
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Land Imaging Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Communications and Publishing, Landsat Missions, Requirements Capabilities & Analysis for Earth Observations
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