U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO)
Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG)
Every two years starting in 2016, Federal agencies have identified high-priority needs for both sustained and unmet satellite Earth observation measurements or products. Input from the agencies helps NASA focus various satellite measurements and data products. Outcomes from past SNWG assessments include:
- Harmonized surface reflectance data from Landsat and Sentinel-2 (operational)
- Multi-satellite products for surface water extent, surface disturbance/change detection (operational), and surface displacement (in development)
- Quick look products from ICESat-2 including sea ice, land, and vegetation height (operational)
- Global soil moisture observations from the NISAR mission (in development)
- Near real-time atmospheric composition and aerosol products from the TEMPO mission (in development)
- Expanded access for Federal agencies to commercial data purchased and evaluated by NASA (operational)
A full list of solutions being developed to meet SNWG agency needs, including current status, can be found here.
The following activities were identified in the 2022 SNWG assessment and are currently awaiting appropriaions:
- Multi-satellite vertical land motion product
- Low-latency harmonized data from Landsat and Sentinel-2
- Additional TEMPO atmospheric composition products
- ARSET remote sensing training
- Multi-satellite ocean surface winds product
- Harmful algal bloom hotspot product
To help NASA and other satellite data providers gain a better
understanding of agency satellite measurement and data product needs, the SNWG asks that
department/agencies complete the survey and indicate each high priority need. All submissions will
undergo Senior Agency Review before submission to USGEO. USGEO will then submit the compiled inputs
to OMB, OSTP, and NASA. We greatly appreciate your participation in this survey.
If you want to use previously submitted information, please open (in a new browser tab ) your past submission from the Previous Submissions section, then copy and paste the text into the new survey question.
Information on available NASA resources:
- SNWG Co-Chairs March 1, 2024 kickoff presentation with survey updates and process information
- NASA March 1, 2024 kickoff presentation
- NASA's past, operating, and future missions with links to mission websites
- Summary of NASA's Decadal Survey with related resources
- SNWG solution page with background and status on activities undertaken to meet agency needs
- Presentation from the 2024 SNWG SME workshop with updates on activities undertaken by NASA to support SNWG agencies
- The Stakeholder Engagement Program provides further information and access to SNWG solutions