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...consistent, calibrated, single-source map of U.S. land cover and land use does not exist. More detailed coverage of large areas on the global or continental scale is limited by high costs and data volume. In fact, many university researchers have started to study AVHRR data despite its limited resolution and spectral information because of the high costs of Landsat data.

Another facto that limits wider use of remotely sensed data stems from differences among scientific disciplines. Many ecologists, for example, are not trained to use satellite date (41), and those who use remote-sensing technologies are typically not mainstream ecologists. There has never been a remote-sensing instrument designed specifically for ecological studies (41). Furthermore, few remote-sensing scientist have backgrounds in ecology or biology (41). Ecologist must essentially take what they can get from remote-sensing data that may not be optimal for their field. Opportunities for interdisciplinary studies at ; universities and the relatively recent surge of interest in ecosystem research (spurred by climate change, deforestation, and global pollution) may help to bridge the gap.

SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1993.