Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 38
** PREPUBLICATION COPY – WORDING SUBJECT TO CHANGE **
Agenda Item 8.1.1C: Societal Benefit
Agenda item 8.1.1c deals “with improving the recognition of the essential role and global importance of
Earth observation radiocommunication applications and their societal benefits.”
Humanity takes advantage of the natural emissions of terrestrial and astrophysical sources to increase
understanding of our environment and our place in the Universe. Access to these faint tracers of key
physical parameters is vital to our safety and insight. These incredibly sensitive passive sensors require
protection from interference. The ITU has provided protection through its Regulations and
Recommendations. It needs to continue (and improve) this recognition of the vital role of the passive
observing services (RAS and EESS) into the future.
The exponential growth of remote sensing technology in the recent past has collectively provided an
enormous amount of information and insight. This has become a key means to understand the effects
of changes in both the natural and artificial environment and to provide information for effective
decision‐making and resource management in many areas of our society and lives. In addition, remote
sensing science and technology have economic benefits, both in job creation and in early warning of
potentially disastrous and disruptive situations. As remote sensing observations continue, they are
expected to yield revolutionary insights about our environment and serve as a catalyst to increase
effective use of natural resources. The fields that benefit from Earth remote sensing are broad based
and varied. Some of the key applications include the following:
• Critical public safety needs are addressed using aviation, maritime, defense, and anti‐collision
radars.
• Weather prediction and climate change benefit from global monitoring of clouds, precipitation,
surface winds, moisture, temperature, aerosols, trace gasses and changes in glaciers and the
Earth’s vegetation canopy (biomass).
• Weather forecasting and climate monitoring are vital for human health, welfare and security.
They are also beneficial in daily outdoor activities, transportation, agriculture, and defense.
They have reduced the impact on property and human life of extreme weather events such as
hurricanes, droughts, tornados, and wildfires.
• Detection of forest fires reduces both response time and damage.
• Data on land use, planning and coastal monitoring benefits both developed and developing
countries.
• More effective management of natural resources is enabled by remote sensing data.
• Spectral monitoring and management yield improved utilization and reduction in frequency
interference for scientific, governmental, defense and commercial applications.
• The availability of Earth remote sensing data increases the capabilities of scientific, government
and commercial users.
• Research and development efforts supporting observations in the passive spectral bands have
and will likely continue to produce high‐tech spinoffs that benefit our society.
Astronomical observations transform our understanding of fundamental physics, the origin and
evolution of the universe, and the place of humanity in the universe. To achieve these goals,
38
OCR for page 39
** PREPUBLICATION COPY – WORDING SUBJECT TO CHANGE **
astronomers, physicists and engineers have developed sensitive instruments and sophisticated
software. In many instances these push the state of the art, not only for science but for practical
applications in health, safety and commercial applications. As noted in the CORF Handbook, the ability
to determine redshift, for example, “is directly related to the ability to cover the widest possible
bandwidth in a search; therefore, it is important to preserve portions of the spectrum to allow this
fundamental information to be measured.”38, 39.”4041
Preservation of access to faint, naturally occurring signals found in the terrestrial and astrophysical
environments through formal recognition of the passive observing services remains a vital role of
humanity, through the ITU.
Conclusion: Earth observation using radiocommunication frequencies has become a key means to
understand the effects of changes in both the natural and artificial environment, and to provide
information for effective decision‐making and resource management in many areas of society and life. In
addition, Earth science and observation technology have economic benefits, both in job creation and in
early warning of potentially disastrous and disruptive situations. These benefits will continue, and
increase as technology pushes humankind’s understanding of its environment even further.
38
National Research Council, Handbook of Frequency Allocations and Spectrum Protection for Scientific Uses, The
National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2010, pp. 26.
39
See also National Research Council, Spectrum Management for Science in the 21st Century, The National
Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2010, pp. 90‐105.
40
National Research Council, Handbook of Frequency Allocations and Spectrum Protection for Scientific Uses,
The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2010, pp. 26.
41
See also National Research Council, Spectrum Management for Science in the 21st Century, The National
Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2010, pp. 90‐105.
39
