<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-15" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19328"></HEAD>
<BODY style="MARGIN: 4px 4px 1px; FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV>FYI</DIV>
<DIV>>>> Imraan Saloojee <<A href="mailto:Imraan.Saloojee@dst.gov.za">Imraan.Saloojee@dst.gov.za</A>> 10/22/2012 4:29 PM >>><BR> </DIV>
<DIV>Hi,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Really interesting set of articles on free data. See the link to landsat study at the end.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Some interesting points related to not having free landsat data </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-Would severely restrict data use. The Department of the Interior (DOI) stopped charging for Landsat data in 2008 and its use skyrocketed, soaring from 38 to over 5700 scenes per day.4 Imposing charges will again severely restrict data use. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-Would stifle innovation and business activity that creates jobs. Increased use is the starting point of value. Free data catalyzes innovation. It leads to unpredictable applications, products, and decision-making that requires investigation and data analysis within specific disciplines.7 The Government's and taxpayers' return is downstream of data access. Free data fuels significant business activity that creates jobs, generates tax revenue, protects property, protects the environment, and saves lives.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-Would cost more than the amount of revenue generated by the charges. Technology has automated the data request and distribution process to operate at virtually no cost for fulfilling orders because the internet cost of filling requests is zero. However, collecting payments incurs costs unrelated to the data because users incur costs from using authorized payment mechanisms and DOI incurs costs to invoice, track, and process payments. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-Would inhibit data analysis in scientific and technical analyses. Free data availability results in major direct and indirect gains in efficiency. Data analysis in scientific and technical analyses renders information that, in turn, more efficiently applies science and technology to practical problems and issues.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Imraan</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> <BR>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>From: DATA-SHARING-WG [mailto:DATA-SHARING-WG@LIST.GEOSEC.ORG] On Behalf Of Alan Edwards (European Commission)<BR>Sent: 11 October 2012 02:34 PM<BR>To: <A href="mailto:DATA-SHARING-WG@LIST.GEOSEC.ORG">DATA-SHARING-WG@LIST.GEOSEC.ORG</A><BR>Subject: EOMag Article on a Free and Open Data Policy for GMES</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dear Colleagues</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Please follow this link to access the latest EOMag Electronic Newsletter: <A href="http://eomag.eu/articles/2010/editorial-autumn-2012">http://eomag.eu/articles/2010/editorial-autumn-2012</A> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This contains an Editorial on a "Free and Open Data Policy for GMES", which I hope you will find of interest.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In addition, it also makes reference to a recent Landsat National Geospatial Advisory Committee study on the benefits of keeping free and open access to Landsat data. The results of this study may be useful for the DSWG and out standard presentations on the benefit of data sharing.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Best regards</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Alan</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To unsubscribe from the DATA-SHARING-WG list, click the following link:<BR><A href="http://list.geosec.org/scripts/wa-GEOSEC.exe?SUBED1=DATA-SHARING-WG&A=1">http://list.geosec.org/scripts/wa-GEOSEC.exe?SUBED1=DATA-SHARING-WG&A=1</A> <BR> <BR> <BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>