91制片厂

Each year, the (USGS) and the (NASA) recognize the contributions of satellite or aerial remote sensing innovators with a distinct honor 鈥� the . This year, , a professor of natural resources and the environment with , was , recognizing Congalton鈥檚 45-year-career in remote sensing.

鈥淩emote sensing plays a pivotal role in mapping and monitoring our planet,鈥� said Congalton. 鈥淎nd without these technologies, it would be impossible to monitor changes to our forests from deforestation, fire, pests and pathogens, climate change, and other natural disasters. The information we gain from remotely sensed data allows us to more effectively and efficiently manage our natural resources.鈥�

Congalton鈥檚 contributions to the remote sensing community span from the earliest days of the through the beginning of commercial Earth observation ventures, to the latest research in Light Detection and Ranging (LiDar) sensor use via unpiloted aerial systems (UAS), or drones. More than 30 years ago, while at the University of California, Berkeley, Congalton authored a foundational remote sensing paper, 鈥溾�� 鈥� a paper that has influenced subsequent generations of remote sensing scholars and has received more than 9,850 citations to date. Congalton has also served in leadership roles with the (GLOBE) program, the (ASPRS), and the .

Congalton adds, 鈥淚t has been a pleasure to introduce thousands of students to the fields of remote sensing and geospatial technologies. These are skills that are crucial to all natural resource and environmental science students in today鈥檚 world, and听I have learned so much from the over 65 graduate students that I have mentored and taken so much joy in seeing their amazing successes.鈥�

鈥淚 had some fantastic and caring professors and mentors throughout my education and career and I am so pleased to be able to give back what was so generously provided to me.鈥�

in honor of the memory of , former Director of the U.S. Geological Survey and Under Secretary for the Department of Interior, the William T. Pecora Award is presented annually to individuals or teams that have made influencing and impactful contributions toward understanding Earth鈥檚 land, oceans and air through the use of satellite or aerial remote sensing. Pecora played an instrumental role in the establishment of a civil remote sensing program, which then paved the way for the creation of the Landsat satellite initiative. The award is given jointly by NASA and the Department of Interior鈥檚 USGS.

Want to learn more about the research of Russ Congalton?