Images of the Earth's surface using state-of-the-art technology will soon be available in UNM's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences thanks to a grant received from NASA for $1.78 million.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., secured the grant to develop a satellite image system called the Center for Rapid Environmental Assessment and Terrain Evaluation, or CREATE. It is one of only eight systems like it in the United States and one of only 20 in the world, said Louis Scuderi, project director and associate professor in the department.
Scuderi said the funding from NASA will be used to purchase equipment for the system, mostly its satellite-receiving dish.
This system will provide UNM access to NASA satellites, which can provide real time imagery of almost anything on earth.
Rick Watson, associate director of CREATE, said with the continued drought in New Mexico, it is important to monitor moisture levels. With the technology's help, UNM can provide crucial information to federal and state agencies about fires, water levels and other land changes.
"We're hoping to be able to move UNM in new directions with processing capabilities in the environmental and physical sciences," Watson said. "It will be available, not only to faculty but also to students."
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"We're becoming a part of a network of data receiving stations around the world," Scuderi said. "Our primary interest is in the environment and environmental change."
Scuderi said in order to receive the information in the past, UNM researchers had to request the images from the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA or commercial providers and could wait up to four weeks for the data.
He said such requests can be expensive, especially with commercial providers, and time consuming.
"We want to be able to take the data that is being produced and apply it to real problems now, rather than later," Scuderi said.
John Ennis, the first graduate student selected to work on the project, said the CREATE program is important because it will allow UNM the technology to provide for the state of New Mexico.
Scuderi said the project should be up and running by April 2004. He said Sen. Bingaman is working on getting another $1.2 million for the project for next year.
