The amount of high-resolution airborne Earth observation data that could be acquired using small low-flying UAVs is enormous. Over the next decade, it is envisioned that the future of UAV flight operations on the north slope of Alaska and other comparable locations will increase significantly for resource exploration and science investigations related to global climate change. Systematic high resolution monitoring of glacial ice pack dynamics and gas emissions from geothermal areas are other examples of the type of beyond line-of-sight UAV missions that could be readily integrated with NASA's current Earth science research activity. Within this framework, an upgraded version of SAVDS could serve as an important decision support tool (DST). Small low-flying long duration UAVs equipped with leading-edge payloads will only reach their full potential of supporting NASA's Earth science research goals when they can fly beyond the line-of-sight of visual observers. The primary commercialization strategy that SAVDS, Inc. plans to pursue is offering SAVDS as a decision support tool (DST) to UAV service providers who operate small low-flying UAVs and plan to operate in the National Airspace System and abide by FAA regulations. It is these UAV service providers who will be providing high resolution airborne imagery to agriculturalists as well as Government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Offices of Emergency Services. High resolution airborne imagery that improves food production and water use efficiency addresses a near-term agricultural need, particularly in the state of California. Natural disasters, forest fires, and search-and-rescue operations are examples of the type of time-critical applications that will require the utilization of small low-flying rapidly-deployable UAVs capable of safely flying beyond visual line-of-sight. Another societal benefit of SAVDS serving as a critically important DST would be the future use of small UAVs for the time-critical delivery of medical supplies in high density urban environments where takeoff and landing, and non-linear flight lines will be a major flight safety challenge.
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