Contact: Maridith Geuder
A new $10 million NASA grant will make Mississippi State University a national center for remote sensing research.
Remote sensing uses space-based satellites and airborne platforms to capture and transmit data about the earth. Images created from the data help scientists monitor forests and land use, make agricultural decisions and analyze land-based systems such as railroads and highways.
In 1997, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provided $500,000 for MSU to become the Southern Remote Sensing Research and Training Center. Since then, the university has become a leader in the emerging technology, especially as it applies to precision agriculture and forest management.
The newly designated Applied Remote Sensing Center of Excellence "will expand and focus the university's basic and applied research in the areas in which it excels," said Robert A. Altenkirch, vice president for research. He praised Sens. Trent Lott and Thad Cochran, along with Rep. Chip Pickering, for their support in securing the appropriations. [All R-Miss.]
"In the future, remote sensing could be a $5-to-10 billion business with Mississippi playing a key role in the growth, development and commercial aspects of this innovative industry," Pickering said of the latest NASA grant.
The new center will focus on agriculture, forestry and wildlife, and transportation, with cross-emphases on computational modeling and workforce development.
"These are areas of benefit to the state and the nation and areas in which Mississippi State has special expertise," said Nancy M. Cox, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment assistant director who chaired the committee drafting the center proposal.
The remote sensing center will take a multidisciplinary approach to research projects, Altenkirch said.
"We will focus on putting together teams to work on problems in both the public and private sectors," he added. "As a land-grant university, Mississippi State is experienced in translating research into benefits for the user."
Among agricultural problems remote sensing could immediately address is the proper application of nitrogen to cotton crops. If the gaseous element is applied as fertilizer throughout the season, farmers often must apply a second chemical at the end of the season to terminate crop growth.
"Satellite data can help us learn just how much nitrogen is needed and could help determine precise locations for application," Cox said. "Solving this problem would provide direct economic and environmental benefits."
The effectiveness of remote sensing depends on the correct interpretation of data. To that end, MSU's expertise in computational modeling and scientific visualization will support the increased efforts in remote sensing research and teaching.
Altenkirch said Mississippi State's long-established National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation "will be a key player."
In addition to its research mission, the remote sensing center will integrate workforce development and education into its projects. MSU will develop courses, instructional techniques and educational outlets to support skills that can be applied to commercial remote sensing.
These educational activities will begin with enhanced classroom emphasis on remote sensing technologies. Mississippi State's Extension Service and Division of Continuing Education workshops also will provide links to K-12 schools and community colleges.