eBook: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing

I found this helpful ebook posted online about "Fundamentals of Remote Sensing" from the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing. I am not sure if you can download this for free. Below, I embedded the document for free reading.

If you cannot view the document below, visit the original link where this ebook was posted.

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Midterm Assessment of NASA's Implementation of the Decadal Survey -- Earth Science and Applications from Space

The book report on "Earth Science and Applications from Space: A Midterm Assessment of NASA's Implementation of the Decadal Survey." is now available online. You can buy the final copy for about $34, but there is also an option to read the PDF copy online for free (not of high res texts, but the free copy works fine).

If you intend to read the whole book, here is the full description:

Understanding human induced changes in Earth's interior and their implications requires a foundation of integrated observations of land, sea, air and space, on which to build credible information products, forecast models, and other tools for making informed decisions.

The 2007 National Research Council report on decadal survey called for a renewal of the national commitment to a program of Earth observations in which attention to securing practical benefits for humankind plays an equal role with the quest to acquire new knowledge about the Earth system. NASA responded favorably and aggressively to this survey, embracing its overall recommendations for Earth observations, missions, technology investments, and priorities for the underlying science. As a result, the science and applications communities have made significant progress over the past 5 years.

However, the Committee on Assessment of NASA's Earth Science Program found that the survey vision is being realized at a far slower pace than was recommended, principally because the required budget was not achieved. Exacerbating the budget shortfalls, NASA Earth science programs experienced launch failures and delays and the cost of implementing missions increased substantially as a result of changes in mission scope, increases in launch vehicle costs and/or the lack of availability of a medium-class launch vehicle, under-estimation of costs by the decadal survey, and unfunded programmatic changes that were required by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has made significant reductions in scope to its future Earth environmental observing satellites as it contends with budget shortfalls.

Earth Science and Applications from Space: A Midterm Assessment of NASA's Implementation of the Decadal Survey recommends a number of steps to better manage existing programs and to implement future programs that will be recommended by the next decadal survey. The report also highlights the urgent need for the Executive Branch to develop and implement an overarching multiagency national strategy for Earth observations from space, a key recommendation of the 2007 decadal survey that remains unfulfilled.

Free reading is provided by the National Academies Press. Proceed here to read the PDF copy online for free.

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Download Cloud eBook From Esri

There's a new cloud ebook from Esri! Cloud computing furnishes technological capabilities that are delivered on demand as services via the Internet. This new e-book shows how cloud technology and architecture can be leveraged by the GIS community.

Cloud computing provides opportunities for organizations to become more cost-effective, productive, and flexible to rapidly deliver new capabilities.
The pay-as-you-go pricing model is often quite flexible when renting cloud applications or infrastructure, allowing prospective cloud clients to "try before they buy," while existing cloud consumers can pay in advance to take advantage of volume discounts and satisfy budget forecasting requirements. Renting assets shifts the duty of maintaining on-premises data centers to the cloud vendor, alleviating the customer's responsibility for software and hardware maintenance, ongoing operation, and support.

Ideally, cloud adopters should be confident that they are consuming state- of-the-art systems that are highly reliable and flexible enough to handle large traffic fluctuations. The burden, then, is on the vendor to scale and continually reinvest in the on-demand IT architecture and service so that consumers are consistently provided with a robust, updated solution.

Moving parts of the corporate data and computing center to the cloud also reduces the amount of fragmented infrastructure, driving down up-front capital spending. As monies are reallocated to be invested in core business, other initiatives could be launched to provide direct value to customers and employees, giving the organization a competitive advantage.

With increasing outsourcing and offshoring, leading to the creation of a global workforce, team productivity depends on the power of networks and the Internet as a common platform. As such, cloud services are available 24/7, accessible from any browser on any device regardless of time zone. This provides faster, easier access for workers to do their jobs, allowing competitive differentiation for the organization and, likewise, retaining and attracting valuable and talented staff.

Download the ebook here in PDF.

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GIS in Africa: ESRI GIS ebook

ESRI is pleased to make available GIS in Africa, an easy-to-access, no-cost booklet featuring recent articles dealing with GIS applications across the continent of Africa, from sustainable development to rural education. Find GIS in Africa at www.esri.com/bestpractices—a new, exciting addition to our no-cost Best Practices series.

Many ESRI GIS Best Practices e-books are available on a variety of topics—at no cost. Published as PDFs with color illustrations, these e-books can be read online at the ESRI Web site or downloaded and printed.

Find the free GIS ebook here (pdf).

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