2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

for coverage of the Costa Rican portion of the
Central American Biological Corridor.
During early FY2009, it was decided that even
more information could be derived from these
data and future airborne science data acquisitions
after more advanced training of Costa Rica
scientists, natural resource managers, and graduate
students. Subsequently, through a collaborative
effort between the NASA Airborne Science
program and CeNAT, a series of workshops was
arranged for additional training in the analysis
of data acquired with sensors on airborne
platforms. A series of two-day workshops were
scheduled. Several were conducted in 2009 and
several will take place in 2010. Each focuses on
SAR (AIRSAR & UAVSAR), and Lidar (LVIS).
Arrangements were made with U.S. experts in the
analysis of each type of data to conduct each twoday
workshop. The workshops take place in the
CeNAT-PRIAS remote sensing lab with support
of the PRIAS technical staff. The workshops
involve a hands-on-the-computer approach using
commonly available image analysis software.
Emphasis is being given to the use of the data
that exists in the CeNAT-PRIAS database that
covers the entire country of Costa Rica, but the
characteristics of data from other airborne science
sensors are also covered. Workshop participants
include personnel from Costa Rican government
agencies, public universities (faculty and graduate
students), and private organizations, each of
which will focus SAR (AIRSAR & UAVSAR),
and Lidar (LVIS). Arrangements were made with
U.S. experts in the analysis of each type of data
to conduct each two-day workshop. Workshop
participants include personnel from Costa Rican
government agencies, public universities (faculty
and graduate students), and private organizations.
Figures 69:
A CeNAT workshop conducted in Costa Rica.
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