Pecora 18 - Forty Years of Earth Observations...Understanding a Changing World

The Pecora Symposium series was established by the USGS and NASA in the 1970s as a forum: 1) to foster the exchange of scientific information and results derived from applications of remotely sensed data to a broad range of land-based resources; and 2) to provide a forum for discussing ideas, policies, and strategies concerning land remote sensing.

Nearly forty years ago, the launch of Earth Resources Technology Satellite-1 (now known as Landsat 1) fulfilled William Pecora's vision for civilian space-based observations of the Earth. Pecora 18 celebrates his vision with the theme "Forty Years of Earth Observations: Understanding a Changing World." The symposium focuses on how 40 years of Landsat and other Earth observation missions have influenced our understanding of the changing Earth, and contributed to improving information needed for managing our natural resources. Special emphasis will be given to the current state of the Landsat program such as the free data revolution and the upcoming launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission. Lessons from the past and present serve as the foundation for looking toward the next generation of operational land remote sensing.

Participation

We cordially invite land remote sensing data users, researchers, applications scientists, producers, managers, and policy-makers to participate in this important symposium by submitting an abstract for a paper or poster. Participants are encouraged to attend general and technical sessions, exhibits, and educational workshops on the very latest remote sensing research, modeling, applications, analysis techniques, and technologies. Pecora 18 provides an opportunity to make new friends and get reacquainted with old ones.

Organization

The Pecora 18 Symposium will be held Monday through Thursday, November 14 to 17, 2011 at the Washington Dulles Hilton in Herndon, Virginia. The program will be organized into five General Sessions with corresponding technical sessions, plus exhibits, and educational workshops. ASPRS is organizing the symposium on behalf of the USGS and NASA.

Categories and Topic Areas for Abstracts

In keeping with the symposium theme, "Forty Years of Earth Observations: Understanding a Changing World" the Pecora 18 Technical Program Committee seeks oral presentations and poster papers that highlight past remote sensing successes, current investigations of a changing Earth, and future pathways for improving the operational monitoring of land surface change. The symposium topics are:

• Achieving William Pecora's Vision
• Highlights from the Past Four Decades
• Science and Applications in an Era of Free Landsat Data
• Mapping and Monitoring the Earth
• The Next Forty Years