PE and RS PUBLIC November 2011 : Page-1083labor. This process may cause further U.S. commercial provider consolidation, as well as, a U.S. skills shortfall. Most of the respondents rated the U.S. as being equivalent to other nations in the ma-jority of scientific/technology areas. A large number of respondents indicate that the U.S. is leading in key areas of Applications GIS Tools, Remote Sensing Tools, Hyperspectral, Consumer Mapping and Software as a Ser-vice, Lidar, Aerial and Satellite Data Capture, and Web Programming. They indicated that the U.S. was behind in Mathematics and Multi-lingual Skills. The current skills advantage in the U.S. is a benefit to the U.S. domestic industry. Software development and consumer mapping may see future growth in offshore migration. This skills advantage, as yet, is not a large industry driver. Lidar technologies are a larger driver versus Hyperspectral, however offshore Lidar data processing is on the rise. Hyperspectral, which has shown promise in past Forecasts and fos-tered skills development in academia, has yet to have a large impact on our industry. There has been a large change in the indus-try with the addition of consumer mapping and its associated technologies. The federal government is slow in its ability to release new “for the nation” programs. This fact, convolved with reductions in federal revenue base, is clearly affecting technology spending. This slowing of spending will directly affect the drive in new technology development. 2000 to provide comprehensive data about the remote sensing geospatial industry, and reliable, unbiased assessments of the indus-try’s future. The remote sensing industry is viewed as those commercial firms, not-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies and academic institutions involved in the capture, production, distribution, and ap-plication of remotely sensed geospatial data and information. In recent years the com-plexion of the industry has changed from the remote sensing industry to a more integrated image-based geospatial industry (Figure 2). New advancements facilitate the application of remote sensing and geospatial science to many previously unrealized disciplines, from the sciences to a myriad of applications. Phase VI of the ASPRS Ten-Year Remote Sensing Industry Forecast of the remote sens-ing and geospatial industry seeks to extend the results of the first five phases 1 and de-termine trends noted in the first phases. The Phase VI survey was extended explicitly to address questions of future workforce need and preparation, issues of employability of new entrants to the workforce and trends in the U.S. role in the geospatial science and technology community. Given the limited Purposes of the ASPRS Ten-Year Remote Sensing Industry Forecast 2000–2011 nature of the survey, the results cannot be used to make explicit predictions, but do provide important information and indicate trends of interest. In particular, ASPRS carried out the Phase VI survey in order to obtain current information and future expectations from a representative sample of the U.S. community regarding; • “Use” of and “needs” for specific require-ments in geospatial information • Workforce hiring needs and requirements • Role of U.S. in S&T trends • The role of government policy in the geo-spatial industry • Gross Revenue Trends in the geospatial remote sensing industry These objectives formed the basis of a questionnaire that extended information gained from similar topics and questions in Phase I-V and questions designed to elicit new information. The initial portion of this report is description of the survey process and interpretation of the study sample. After this overview of results in selected areas, the responses for private and educational sector respondents are separated and discussed. continued on page 1084 Remote Sensing Industry Definition Platforms & Sensors Data Collection Data Processing Support Elements • Hardware • Software • Etc. Federal Government Policy Governmental policy was not a primary fo-cus of the Phase VI survey, but respondents have a generally favorable view of the role of government in the geospatial industry. Results indicate a change in the perception of government policy as being beneficial or neutral versus previous results indicating a more negative impact of government on the industry. Government spending, while likely to decline in the future, is targeting basic programs driving sharing and leveraging data and processes. This is to some degree being supplanted by commercial firms using alternative methods of financial monetiza-tion. A future area of study should review the impacts of this change. The ASPRS Forecast was initiated in 1999– Industry Intermediaries Business Segments • VARs • Consultants • Etc. Phase VI maintains previous Forecast business and end user segments, but now includes citizen mapping and internet information applications. End-User Figure 2. Business Segments and New Market Entrants for Phase VI. Photogrammetric engineering & remote SenSing November 2011 1083 Publication List Using a screen reader? Click Here |
