Geology topics
Allen H. Watkins
Publications and source records attributed to Allen H. Watkins.
The role of remote sensing in the Department of Interior
Since its creation in 1849, USDI has faced the challenging mission of being custodian of the Nation's natural resources. USDI is directly responsible for management of 30 % of the United State's land area, including administration of more than 600 million acres of Federal land and 300 million acres of subsurface lands where mineral rights have been retained by the Federal Government.
Data availability and the role of the Earth Resources Observation Systems Data Center
With the launch of LANDSAT-1 in July 1972, and the follow-on launch of LANDSAT-2 in January of this year, routine availability of satellite imagery and electronic data of the earth's resources has become a reality. Federal data centers provide LANDSAT data to resource managers and the general public. These data centers have to date provided almost 500,000 frames of LANDSAT data at a cost of more than $2,000,000. Data from the LANDSAT satellite program, along with data and information from the Skylab manned program, are available over any location to anyone for the cost of reproduction.