A Geoscience and Remote Sensing Research Paradigm in Industry [Industrial Profiles]

Abstract-With a 37-year history of cutting-edge research in the geosciences and environmental risk, Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) has grown its expertise from an initial focus on atmospheric photochemistry to a broad set of capabilities in remote sensing, meteorology, oceanography, space weather, and climate science to meet the needs of government agencies, universities, and corporations. In this article, we describe our successful paradigm for highest-quality geosciences and remote sensing research performed in the private sector. Our approach is firmly grounded in fundamental basic research, starting with an understanding the underlying physics and then applying that knowledge to remote sensing systems and how they provide information on the state of the geophysical system. From that perspective we discuss the use of those data to initialize weather and environmental nowcast and forecast models and to develop operational ground systems which utilize and exploit the data. In turn we discuss the fundamental research, major government programs supported by those research underpinnings, space weather R&D, our sensor simulation testbed capability, our physical oceanography program, our unique software development process, and finally the transition from research into commercial products.